Histocompatibility antigens and manic-depressive disorders
R. W. Shapiro, E. Bock, O. J. Rafaelsen, L. P. Ryder and A. Svejgaard
Forty-seven unrelated Danish patients considered to be manic-depressive,
according to strict diagnostic, symptomatic, and course criteria, were
typed for histocompatibility (HLA) antigens. Significantly more
manic-depressive patients than controls were found to have HLA-A3, HLA-B7,
and HLA-Bw16, while significantly fewer manic depressives than controls had
HLA-B8. All eight of the patients with HLA-Bw16 were bipolar patients, and
none were unipolar depressive patients. We emphasize the need to consider
the results with caution in view of the large number of antigens considered
and the relatively small number of patients involved. When statistical
corrections are made for the large number of antigens investigated, only
the difference between bipolar patients and controls remains significant.
The best way to determine if our findings are really significant is to
attempt to confirm them in other series of patients. The importance of
utilizing strict symptomatic and course criteria for the selection and
polarization of proband is stressed.
