HLA-Dw 'RSH': a new HLA-Dw specificity associated with HLA-DRw18(3).

The present study describes a new HLA-Dw specificity, Dw'RSH'. HLA-Dw'RSH' is associated with DRw18(3) and is clearly different to the DRw17(3) associated specificity Dw3. Dw'RSH' was shown to be the most common Dw specificity found in the South African (SA) Negroes (gf = 0.10) and was less common in Cape Coloureds (gf = 0.01). The specificity was absent in the SA Caucasoids tested. Dw'RSH' is part of the common Negro haplotype Bw42, DRw18, DQw4 which is seen as commonly in the SA Negroes as the B8, DRw17, DQw2, Dw3 haplotype is seen in the Caucasoids.