Lack of association between HLA genotype and chronic fatigue syndrome

Although the aetioiogy of chronic fatigue syndrome is controversial, eviden ce that infective agents including viruses may have a role in the developme nt of the condition has led to studies seeking an association with the immu nomodulatory HLA genes. In the present study, we sought to extend previous work using a well-characterized patient group and modem HLA genotyping tech niques. Fifty-eight patients were phenotyped for HLA A and B by microcytoto xicity and genotyped for HLA DRB, DQB and DPB by PCR oligoprobing, and the frequencies of antigens so assigned were compared with those from a control group of 134. No significant differences in HLA frequencies were found bet ween patient and control groups. Thus, this study does not confirm previous findings of an HLA association with chronic fatigue syndrome, suggesting t hat neither presentation of viral antigen by HLA class I nor antigen proces sing genes in the HLA region is a major contributory factor in the developm ent of the disease.