[Immunologic HLA-typing. A tool for selection of recipients in transplantation and for detection of disposition to certain diseases (author's transl)].

Some decades ago, animal experiments have shown that inbred mice with completely identical genetic characteristics accept transplants between each other without any problem while transplants between individuals of genetically different strains are being rejected after a few days. It was also proven later that with men, genetical factors are responsible for acceptance or rejection of homologous transplants. These genetic factors, although they are called the HLA system, are located on the sixth chromosome. Methods were developed to determine the inherited HLA antigens with the help of antibodies present in the blood serum of pregnant women. The determination is of great importance in preparing transplants organ, especially of kidneys, because chances of successful transplantation are the greater, the better the correspondence of HLA antigens between donor and recipient. Furthermore, there exists growing indication that HLA antigens are coupled or even partly identical with the immune response gene products. These determine whether an individual is more or less suited to develop an immunity against bacterial or viral infections. Finally, there subsist associations of certain HLA antigens and diseases such as gluten enteropathy, myasthenia gravis, multiple sclerosis, diabetes mellitus and many others.