HLA antigens in Greek patients with cholelithiasis.

The distribution of HLA-A and B antigens was studied in 100 patients with cholelithiasis and in 202 healthy individuals all of Greek origin. An increased frequency of HLA-Aw19 was found in patients (33 per cent) compared with controls (22 per cent) (p less than 0.05, RR 1.7). The increase of Aw19 was even higher for patients with a family history of the disease (44 per cent, vs 22 per cent, p less than 0.01, RR 2.7) and for patients with cholesterol gall stones (44 per cent vs 22 per cent, p less than 0.01, RR 2.5). No difference was seen in patients without a family history of disease or with mixed gall stones. These results suggest a genetic basis for the development of cholesterol gall stone disease.