HLA-ABC and DR Antigens in Celiac Disease

Abstract
HLA phenotypes of 64 Italian pediatric patients with celiac disease (CD) were compared with those of a group of healthy controls. DR3 and DR7 are significantly increased as reported in other populations. In addition an increase of heterozygotes DR5/DR7 was observed in patients. The Hardy-Weinberg distribution in the patients group shows a disequilibrium due to the genotype DR5/DR7. More than 1 HLA gene product is associated with CD: one with DR3 and the other with DR7.