Association of HLA-B12 with multiple sclerosis in India.

In Indian patients with Multiple Sclerosis it was observed, upon testing for serum determinable histocompatibility antigens, that HLA-B12 antigen was present in excess (77.7%), in comparison with normal controls (13.8%). In fact, in the sub-group of 'clinically definite' patients, the B12 antigen excess was remarkable (84%). These preliminary findings seem to point to a different immunogenetic profile of Indian MS patients in comparison with Western and Japanese series. Relevant published information relating to the HLA-B12 alleles in disease processes is discussed in order to provide a basis for further work.