Distribution of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM)-related HLA alleles correlates with the difference in IDDM incidence in four populations of the Eastern Baltic region

The high incidence of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) in Finland contrasts strikingly with the low rates in the neighbouring populations of countries in the Eastern Baltic region: Estonia, Latvia and Russia. To eva luate the possible contribution of genetic factors to these differences, th e frequencies of HLA-DQB1 alleles and relevant DQB1-DQA1 or DQB1-DRB1 haplo types associated with IDDM risk or protection were analysed among IDDM pati ents and control subjects from these four populations. An increased frequen cy of HLA-DQB1*0302, DQB1*02-DQA1*05 and DQB1*0302-DRB1*0401 was observed i n subjects with IDDM in all studied populations, whereas the prevalence of DQB1*0301 and DQB1*0602 and/or *0603 was decreased among patients. The degr ee of IDDM risk associated with HLA alleles analysed here did not differ si gnificantly between the populations. Comparisons of the distribution of IDD M-related HLA alleles and haplotypes in the background populations revealed its consonance with IDDM incidence. The combined frequency of high risk ge notypes was significantly higher among Finns than in other populations stud ied. Our data support the hypothesis that variance in the dispersion of HLA alleles is the genetic basis of variation of IDDM incidence observed in th e Eastern Baltic region.