Duffy locus linkage and HLA antigens in hereditary motor-sensory neuropathy.

The Duffy system, Fya, Fyb, and HLA antigens were studied in 86 members, 39 affected, 47 healthy subjects, of 17 families with HMSN types I, II and III. The incidence of autosomal dominant as well as recessive, or sporadic forms was registered. In the autosomal dominant form of HMSN type I a close linkage was found between the genes coding the disease under study and the determinants Fya and Fyb. Recombination was found in only 9.1% of the cases. A study of HLA antigens revealed a major decrease in antigen B27 in the patients under scrutiny. An identical haplotype of most of the parents was a conspicuous feature in families with the autosomal dominant form of HMSN type I.