Can HLA typing predict the outcome of grass pollen immunotherapy?

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship betwee n HLA molecules and the positive or negative response of atopic patients to specific immunotherapy (SIT). Methods: We studied 42 atopic multi-sensitiv e patients undergoing grass pollen immunotherapy, 42 parents of patients (3 0 mothers and 12 fathers) and 173 control individuals. HLA class I and clas s II antigens were typed by a microlymphocytotoxicity test. The typing of D RB1* alleles for atopic patients and their parents was based on the reverse hybridization principle, while for the control group, DNA-RFLP and PCR-SSP methods were used. Results: The frequency of B14 and DRB1*1101-4 antigens/ alleles, as well as the A2B5DR11 haplotype, showed a statistically signific ant difference in those patients who responded to immunotherapy. On the oth er hand, HLA-A28, B8 and DRB1*0301 antigens/alleles, as well as the frequen cy of the A1B8 and A1B8DR3 haplotypes, were found to be significantly highe r in patients who responded poorly to SIT. Discussion: Our findings support the hypothesis that treatment responsiveness may show an association to HL A molecules, which could thus play a role in the immunological selection an d monitoring of atopic patient candidacy for SIT. Copyright (C) 2001 S. Kar ger AG. Basel.