A population study of herpesvirus infections and HLA antigens.

In a population-based study of herpesvirus infection and human leukocyte antigen (HLA) phenotype, conducted during the period 1977-1979 in the Framingham Study cohort, HLA-Bw16 was found less often and HLA-Cw2 more often in individuals with histories of herpes labialis than in other individuals. Similarly, both geometric mean antibody titer to herpes simplex type 1 and proportion of individuals with detectable antibody were higher in those without Bw16 and in those with Cw2. No strong association was found between HLA and history of herpes zoster or titer to herpes simplex type 2, varicella-zoster virus or cytomegalovirus.