Immunoglobulin allotype markers in gluten-sensitive enteropathy.

Immunoglobulin allotype markers and HLA-A, HLA-B, and HLA-DR locus antigens were determined in 30 White patients with gluten-sensitive enteropathy and 30 controls matched for age, ethnic background, and geographic origin. All patients lacking HLA-B8 and HLA-DR3 had the IgG (Gm) immunoglobulin heavy-chain phenotype Gm (f;n;b). Thus, in addition to major histocompatibility locus genes, it appears that genes linked to the immunoglobulin heavy-chain allotype locus on chromosome 14 may influence susceptibility in gluten-sensitive enteropathy.