ABSTRACT
HLA classes I and II profiles were determined among 45 unrelated Lebanese greek orthodox by the complement dependent lymphomicrocytotoxicity assay. HLA epitope frequencies and alleles in linkage disequilibrium were determined; the obtained results were then compared to those reported for other groups. Moreover, possible HLA disease associations were examined; medical history in relation to diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and ankylosing spondilitis was taken for each of the 45 individuals. The results indicated that :1] there were similarities and differences in HLA frequencies and alleles in linkage disequilibrium in greek orthodox as compared to those in other groups. It is worth mentioning the higher frequencies of B35, DR11, and DQ3 and the existence of linkage disequilibrium between DR11 and DR52 and DR4 and DR53 in greek orthodox. 2] preliminary results indicate that there were no significant HLA disease associations between each of DR4 and rheumatoid arthritis, DR4 and insulin dependent diabetes mellitus [IDDM], and B27 and ankylosing spondilitis in the group studied. Such associations have been reported in north American Caucasians