HL-A antigen in Sjögren's syndrome.

The association between Sjögren's syndrome and the HL-A system is still a matter of controversy, because there are conflicting data as to whether this syndrome is linked with HL-A B8 and Dw3. In an attempt to study this possible linkage, a survey of HL-A antigens among a homogenous group of East European (Ashkenazi) Jews was undertaken. The tissue typing of 30 patients with sicca syndrome (SS), 18 patients with rheumatoid arthritis and Sjögren's syndrome (RASS), and 80 healthy controls of the same ethnic group was analyzed. Neither sicca syndrome nor rheumatoid arthritis with Sjögren's syndrome was associated with HL-A B8 or any other antigen. The difference between our results and previous studies is discussed.