[Genetic factors in asthma].

Asthma is universally accepted as a multifactorial disease. So the research of constitutional risk factors must consider multiple pathways. In non atopic asthma several rare genetic etiologies are known, others are suspected but not proved. From HAMBURGER atopic allergy is a phenotype with several mechanisms. Finally some data suggest that bronchial hyper-reactivity has a genetic part. The author reviews recent knowledge and describes his personal research. His findings reveal that HLA-B 12 is significantly linked with family history of presumed atopic respiratory disease. These data are discussed.