HLA-D locus typing in ankylosing spondylitis and Reiter's syndrome.

HLA-D typing of 44 patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and 31 patients with Reiter's syndrome (RS) did not show increased frequency of any particular Dw allele in either population of patients as compared to controls. Such studies also allowed each patient's general response to be compared with other general responses within each experiment. Contrary to reports of diminished lymphocyte responses in AS patients, hyperresponsiveness in both AS and RS patients was found.