HLA-DR, DRw52.53, and DQ homozygosity in patients with neural tube defects

Studies of the possible relationship between malformations of the neuraxis and the human major histocompatibility complex have been contributive to the search for a human equivalent of the murine T/t complex. The authors conducted a population and family study in 34 Japanese couples together with their children with neural tube defects. The data support the hypothesis that a T/t-like complex in or near the HLA complex might be etiologically related to neural tube defects.