HLA haplotype sharing in affected siblings in multiple case Chinese families with thyrotoxicosis

Abstract

HLA associations in unrelated Chinese thyrotoxicosis have been reported. The main association is with BW46 (RR = 3.74). However, the joint occurrences of BW46 and B40 or BW46 and B13 were significantly more frequent in thyrotoxic patients than controls, giving rise to higher RR's of 8.74 and 5.88, respectively. These findings suggested the involvement of both sixth chromosomes in the pathogenesis of this disease. We also had an opportunity to study 12 multiple case Chinese thyrotoxic families in which there were affected sibling pairs and the HLA results supported the hypothesis of the involvement of both haplotypes.