HLA patterns in children with parainflammatory leukoencephalomyelitis.

We have evaluated the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) phenotype of six children with parainflammatory leukoencephalomyelitis (PIL). Patients with PIL demonstrate an increased prevalence of the HLA-A1, -A28, -B44, -DR6, and -DR7 antigens. These HLA associations are different from those reported in other inflammatory demyelinating diseases, including multiple sclerosis, optic neuritis, Guillain-Barré syndrome, and chronic relapsing inflammatory polyneuropathy. The HLA constitution of the patient appears to be one important host factor in determining the nature of the immune response to an encephalitogenic challenge.