HLA A, B, C AND DR ANTIGENS IN AN URBAN-POPULATION FROM SANTIAGO

HLA antigens vary in different ethnical groups and in Chile there are no reports on the frequency of these antigens in a normal representati ve population. The few existing studies are of indigenous populations and control groups, without including HLA-DR antigens. Therefore, the aim of this study was to study the frequency of HLA A, B and C antigen s in 349 Individuals and HLA-DR In 257, using the microlymphocytotoxic ity method, and compared the results with those on normal caucasian po pulations (Europe and USA) Significant differences were found for 7 an tigens of group A, 10 of group B, 4 of group C and 6 of group DR. The observed difference allow us to conclude that the population from Sant iago has a distinct HLA antigen distribution. This fact must be bore i n mind future studies in genetics, paternity or autoimmune diseases.