[HLA study in 108 Japanese patients with Crohn's disease].

We attempted to clarify the association between HLA and Crohn's disease. HLA-A, -B, -C, -DR and -DQ locus antigens in 108 Japanese patients with Crohn's disease were analyzed and the results were compared with findings of 472 healthy Japanese. In patients with Crohn's disease there was a strong positive association with HLA-DR4 (chi 2 = 14.086, Pc less than 0.005, RR = 2.231), and a weak positive association with HLA-B51, -Bw54, -DRw12, -DRw13 and -DRw52. While there was a strong negative association with HLA-DR2 (chi 2 = 10.194, Pc less than 0.025, RR = 0.435), DQw1 (chi 2 = 14.680, Pc less than 0.001 RR = 0.442) and DQw3 (chi 2 = 7.760 Pc less than 0.025 RR = 0.549), and a weak negative association with HLA-B7. In conclusion, susceptibility to Crohn's disease may relate to HLA-DR4, especially HLA-DR4.1, in Japanese patients.