Objective: To determine the frequency of HLA class I and II antigens in Caucasian North American patients with Takayasu arteritis (TA).
Methods: Seventy-three class I antigens and 13 class II antigens were examined in 21 Caucasian North American patients with TA, and their frequencies were compared with findings in 243 healthy, untreated controls. HLA typing was performed by microlymphocytotoxicity assay.
Results: We found no statistically significant positive association of TA with DR2, DR4, DQw3, or any of the other class I or class II antigens studied. A negative association between TA and DR1 was noted. There was no significant association between any of the HLA antigens and the severity of the disease or the presence of complications.
Conclusion: The negative association between TA and the DR1 antigen suggests that this antigen may be protective against the development of the disease.