HLA-antigens in idiopathic haemochromatosis (i.h.). preliminary report.

Striking differences could be observed when the HLA-antigens of 11 unrelated idiopathic haemochromatosis (i.h.) patients were compared with healthy controls. Besides the increase of the antigens A3, A11 and B7 and the decrease of A2, the large number of homozygous antigens at the A or/and at the B locus was found to be the most interesting result. Taking the latter finding into account, the possible existence of a recessive "disease-susceptibility gene" closely linked to the major histocompatibility system, playing a basic role in the etiology of i.h. was assumed.