Heather M. Dick

A Study of HLA Antigen Distribution in Families with Atopic Dermatitis

Seventeen children presenting with atopic dermatitis were HLA typed together with their parents and siblings. A total of 89 individuals was studied. No close link between HLA antigen distribution and clinical expression of atopy was demonstrated, and 14 HLA identical but disease‐free siblings were identified. An increase in the A1 B8 haplotype was observed in the families as a whole by comparison with a large control series.

Distribution of HLA Antigens in Patients with Mycosis fungoides

19 patients with plaque-style mycosis fungoides have undergone determination of HLA antigen distribution. Deviations from the expected distribution frequency occurred with the antigens of the W19 group comprising A29, W30, W31 and W32 and of B8 and A1. The W19 group deviation was statistically significant (chi2 = 9.7 p value less than 0.005). The significance of this observation in relation to reported immunological abnormalities in mycosis fungoides is discussed.

Adverse Reactions to Practolol: Some Observations on the Possible Relevance to Immune Mechanisms

HLA antigen frequencies were determined in patients who had suffered adverse reactions to the β‐adrenergic blocking agent, practolol. No statistically significant differences were observed between these patients and control groups. The latter were selected to include two separate groups, normal random healthy population controls, and controls who had taken practolol with no apparent adverse effects. Patients suffering from the very severe form of reaction, sclerosing peritonitis, were analysed separately from those with other lesions e.g. ocular symptoms, but did not show any significant differences Altered HLA antigen frequencies were observed for those control patients whose primary diagnosis was hypertension but this was considered to be due to selection bias.