HLA antigens and otosclerosis. A possible new genetic factor.

The pattern of HLA antigens was studied in 68 Greek patients with otosclerosis with and without a family history of otosclerosis and in the members of seven families in which the disease occurs, and was compared with that of 400 unrelated control subjects. Fifty-six specific HLA antiserum samples were used to determine 27 HLA-A and B antigens with the two-stage standard National Institutes of Health assay. The results were modified as follows: There was a highly significant increase of the antigens HLA-A11, Bw35, and B14 only in the patients with family history.