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HLA Antigen Frequencies in Cirrhotic and Noncirrhotic Male Alcoholics: A Controlled Study
Author(s) -
Rada Richard T.,
Knodell Robert G.,
Troup Gary M.,
Keilner Robert,
Hermanson Susan M.,
Richards Meri
Publication year - 1981
Publication title -
alcoholism: clinical and experimental research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.267
H-Index - 153
eISSN - 1530-0277
pISSN - 0145-6008
DOI - 10.1111/j.1530-0277.1981.tb04886.x
Subject(s) - alcoholic liver disease , human leukocyte antigen , cirrhosis , medicine , gastroenterology , epidemiology , antigen , alcohol , genetic predisposition , liver disease , immunology , disease , biology , biochemistry
Although epidemiological data suggest that the development of cirrhosis in alcohol abusers is related to the duration and amount of ethanol intake, the fact that only a small percentage of alcohol abusers develop cirrhosis remains unexplained and suggests a possible predisposing genetic factor. Several previous studies have reported an association between various human leucocyte antigens (HLA) and alcoholic cirrhosis. In this study HLA antigen frequencies were determined in Anglo‐ and Spanish‐American cirrhotic and noncirrhotic alcoholics and in a control group of nonalcoholic patients without liver disease. No statistically significant differences in HLA frequencies among the groups were found. Our comparisons of HLA frequencies between cirrhotic and noncirrhotic alcoholic patients do not support the hypothesis that individual susceptibility to the development of alcoholic cirrhosis is genetically determined.