Affective Illness and HLA Frequencies: No Compelling Association

Abstract

114 patients suffering from an endogenomorphic affective illness were typed for HLA antigens at the A and B loci, and the frequencies were compared with those of a control panel numbering 439 individuals. Using new analytical procedures, a large number of tests were conducted, but no convincing evidence for an association of HLA types with affective disorders was obtained. A reanalysis of the same data, where patients are classifíed according to Danish diagnostic criteria, yields a marginally signifícant association of the B locus alleles. The sample sizes for this latter analysis were small, the test criteria are undoubtedly inflated, and no compelling case can be made for a useful association.