HLA-A,B,DR antigens of two groups, one of normal individuals (N- = 31) and another of CRF (Chronic Renal Failure) patients (K- = 37), who did not develop anti-HBs protective antibodies after Hepatitis B (HB) vaccination, were compared, respectively, to the HLA antigens of two corresponding control groups (N+ = 52, K+ = 49), who responded to the vaccine. A statistically significant difference (Pc less than 0.02) in the frequency of HLA-DR3 was observed between responders and non-responders. An increased frequency of HLA-A1 and HLA-B8 in N- as well as of HLA-A1 and HLA-B35 in K- was also noticed, but this was not of statistical significance. As these antigens have been associated to both HBs antigenemia as well as chronic active hepatitis, we suggest that these genes or other genes in linkage to those may suppress the response to HBV vaccination while, in parallel, they may predispose to an autoimmune course of Hepatitis.

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The frequencies of HLA-DQA1, DQB1 and DRB1 alleles were compared between 50 Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Melitus (IDDM) patients and 49 healthy controls in the Greek population. Statistically significant difference in the frequencies of HLA-DQA1*0501-DQB1*0201 (P = 10(-4)), DQA1*0301-DQB1*0201 (P = 0.01) and DQA1*0301-DQB1*0302 (P = 0.001) were observed. The DRB1*0405-DQA1*0301-DQB1*0201 was the only DR, DQ combination significantly associated with the disease. The unexpected increase of DRB1*0405 observed in the Greek IDDM may suggest as reported in Chinese and Japanese IDDM a contribution of DR beta and DQ alpha in susceptibility. Moreover, in contrast to the Asians, in the Greek, the DR beta, DQ alpha are found with the usual DQ beta 57-ve.

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