Histocompatibility (HL‐A) antigens and lymphocytotoxic antibodies in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)

Abstract

Abstract Comparison was made of HL‐A phenotypes in 122 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and 1289 ethnically matched controls. The only significant association was between the HL‐A antigen HL‐A5 and the presence of SLE in Black Americans. A similar trend in 40 Caucasian patients did not reach a level of statistical significance. No significant association was present between any HL‐A antigen and clinical or laboratory manifestations of the disease. Lymphocytotoxic antibodies were present in 36% of the patients and correlated with the presence of low total hemolytic complement and leukopenia.