Histocompatibility antigen frequencies in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia: possible identification of a subgroup with relatively benign disease.

A series of 57 patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia was typed for HLA-A, B and DR antigens and compared with a control population of equal size. There was an increased frequency of HLA-A1 and B8 in the patient group, although it was not statistically significant after allowance for the number of specificities tested. A subgroup of patients lacking both A1 and B8 differed from the others in sex ratio, degree of lymphocytosis and incidence of hypogammaglobulinaemia at presentation. This subgroup also had less need for treatment within 6 months of presentation. While these findings must be considered preliminary, it is possible that tissue typing may help to identify patients with a relatively benign form of the disease.