Hashimoto's Thyroiditis Is Associated with HLA-DRw3

OBSERVATIONS in laboratory animals suggested an association of experimental and spontaneous thyroiditis with histocompatibility genes.1 2 3 However, in contrast to the definite association between Graves' disease and specific human leukocyte (or histocompatibility) antigens (HLA),4 5 6 7 no such relation was shown for Hashimoto's thyroiditis.7 8 9 10 11 In this study 127 patients with thyroiditis were typed for HLA-A and HLA-B antigens; 40 were also tested for HLA-D-related (DRw) specificities.Materials and MethodsAll 262 subjects (135 controls and 127 patients) studied were referred for investigation of thyroid function. The patients satisfied at least three of five of the criteria for the diagnosis of Hashimoto's thyroiditis.7 The . . .