Infantile spasms and HLA antigens.

21 new cases of infantile spasms were reported in 1976 from paediatric departments in Denmark. The connection between infantile spasms and the Lennox-Gastaut syndrome is mentioned, because of reports of a significantly higher incidence of HLA-B7 in children with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. The HLA antigen distribution in 19 of the 21 children was compared with that of 1967 healthy adults. No difference in the HLA antigens was demonstrated between children with infantile spasms and controls, whether in the material as a whole, or in the cryptogenic or symptomatic groups. However HLA typing of children with infantile spasms should continue in the search for a potential genetic marker in this grave disease, particularly in view of the reported high incidence of HLA-B7 in children with the Lennox-Gastaut syndrome.