HLA ASSOCIATIONS WITH MENIERES-DISEASE

In order to investigate the genetic background of Meniere's disease, h istocompatibility (HLA) antigens in Japanese patients were studied. HL A-class I: HLA-A, -B and -C were typed by the classical microcytotoxic ity technique, and HLA-class II: HLA-DR, DQ, and DP were typed by PCR- DNA typing methods, Twenty patient samples tested were selected very s trictly following clinical data and classical criteria. Most of the pa tients had been suffering from typical symptoms during a considerably long period of time (16 +/- 7 years). Normal controls were based on th e gene frequency in the Japanese population. Compared with the normal controls, a higher frequency of the DRB11602 subtype of HLA-DR2 was f ound in the patient group (X2 = 9,21, p < 0.04). P-values were correct ed by multiplying by the total number of antigens. Additionally, HLA-C w4 was increased, although the p-value was not significant after multi ple antigen correction. There was no obvious relationship between the HLA-DRB11602 patients and the clinical data that included severity, a ge at time of onset, etc.