The distribution of HLA-Antigens in German patients with idiopathic hemochromatosis.

HLA-phenotypes were determined in 31 (30 unrelated) patients with hemochromatosis and compared to the distribution of HLA-antigens in the general German population. A significant excess of HLA-A3 was observed (76.7% vs. 30.2%). The frequency of HLA-B7 was also increased (53.3% vs. 27.0%). However, the difference did not quite reach the level of statistical significance, when correction for multiple comparisons was made. Our findings are in accord with previous observations for different ethnic groups, indicating an association of IH with the A3/B7 haplotype.