Our understanding of the mechanisms underlying HLA associations with inflammatory arthritis continues to evolve. Disease associations have been refined, and interactions of HLA genotype with other genes and environmental risk factors in determining disease risk have been identified. This Review provides basic information on the genetics and molecular function of HLA molecules, as well as general features of HLA associations with disease. We summarise evidence for various peptidedependent and peptide-independent mechanisms by which HLA alleles might contribute to the pathogenesis of three types of inflammatory arthritis: rheumatoid arthritis, spondyloarthritis and systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis. Also discussed are HLA allelic associations that shed light on the genetic heterogeneity of inflammatory arthritides and on the relationships between adult and pediatric forms of arthritis. Clinical implications range from improved diagnosis and outcome prediction to the possibility of using HLA associations in developing personalized strategies for the treatment and prevention of these diseases. [ED: Some general editorial comments are replied to in the marginal comments. For replies to reviewers, please see the accompanying file.]