Association of certain Ia allotypes with the occurrence of chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Recognition by a monoclonal anti-Ia reagent of a susceptibility determinant not in the DR series.

The Ia antigen allospecificities of individuals with B type chronic lymphocytic leukemia differed significantly from those of a control population. A monoclonal antibody, IVD12, directed to a MB3-1ike determinant, reacted with 92.5 percent of the individuals with leukemia and yielded the greatest positive relative risk, 13.5. A lower degree of positive association was found with the presence of the MT2 determinant. In contrast, the low observed frequency of the MT1/MB1 determinant among leukemic individuals was associated with the most significant negative relative risk, -8.1. Among HLA- DR specificities, the relative risk associated with the presence of DR5 was positive while that with DR2 was negative.