HLA antigens and atopy in children with coeliac disease.

Abstract

SUMMARY HLA antigens and various aspects of atopy were studied in 42 Finnish children and adolescents with coeliac disease, and the results were compared with findings of recent population studies. The HLA associations were as expected: relative risks for coeliac disease in individuals with HLA-B8, DR3, and DR7 were 8.0, 18-6, and 15.0, respectively. Children with coeliac disease were significantly more often atopic than unselected schoolchildren. Atopy was significantly more frequent and the onset of coeliac disease later for B8/DR3-patients than B8/DR3+ patients. There was no obvious relation between DR7 and atopy.

Allergy prevalence in adult celiac disease

“…It cannot be excluded, however, that allergy and celiac disease share a similar genetic background. [28][29][30][31] Our data are in keeping with recent observation of coincidence of atopy and adult patient reports of physician-diagnosed common autoimmune disorders 32 and support the hypothesis that T H 1 and T H 2 paradigm (ie, the inverse relationship between T H 1-and T H 2-mediated disorders) might be inconsistent.…”

Possible constraints on adaptive variation in sex ratio at birth in humans and other primates

“…I suggest that one reason for this is that a risk factor for this disease is HLA B8 (e.g. Turner et al, 2000;Verkasalo et al, 1983) and that HLA B8 is reportedly associated with low testosterone levels in women (Gerencer et al, 1982). Ex hypothesi, the low sex ratio is due to the mothers' low testosterone level.…”

Celiac disease in Brazilian patients: associations, complications and causes of death. Forty years of clinical experience

“…VERKASALO et al (69) , studying children and adolescents, concluded that atopy predisposes CD partly independently of the HLA-DR3 associated disease susceptibility gene(s), and that different mechanisms may operate in the pathogenesis in CD patients with and without atopy. A deficiency of local mucosal immunity due to abnormal IgA response may underly the association of CD with atopy (30) .…”