Strong association between the HLA-Dw3-related B cell alloantigen -DRw3 and coeliac disease.

The frequency of HLA-A, -B, and -C antigens, of -DRw3 and the associated B-lymphocyte alloantigen -DRw3 has been studied in 68 children with coeliac disease (CD). CD was found to be primarily associated with the B-lymphocyte alloantigen, the relative risk being calculated to 54. The possible relation between the B-lymphocyte alloantigen DRw3 and -Dw3 is discussed. The high relative risk and the fact that 95% of the patients with probable or definite CD had the B-lymphocyte alloantigen DRw3, underline the diagnostic value of B-lymphocyte typing in coeliac disease.