Distribution of HLA antigens in Polish and German populations in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Gene and haplotype frequencies for HLA-A and HLA-B antigens were determined in Milwaukee blood donors of German and Polish descent. Gene frequencies for A25 and B18 were significantly higher in Poles than in Germans. Significant gametic associations were noted for A1-B8, A29-B12 and AW30-B13 in both populations. Gametic association for A3-B7 was only found in Germans, while the A25-B18 haplotype frequency was significantly increased in Poles. Since the latter haplotype has also been found in Yugoslavs, Ukrainians and Czechs, it is possible that A25-B18 represents a Slavonic marker.