Expression of human leukocyte antigens in patients with autogenic and allogenic circulating antisperm antibodies.
Circulating antisperm antibodies have been shown to have an adverse effect on a couple's ability to achieve fertilization. This study investigated the HLA class II pattern in couples with infertility associated with antisperm antibodies. Forty-nine couples with significant circulating antisperm antibodies confirmed with immunofluorescence technique and 15 control couples had HLA class II-DR, DQ typing. The Terasaki lymphotoxicity test was used. In women with antisperm antibodies, HLA class II haplotypes DR4, DR6, and DQW3 were more common than in the control group. For the men, DR6 and DQ7 were more common in those with antisperm antibodies, than in controls. With sharing of the haplotypes by the couples, DR4, DR6, and DQ7 were more common in couples with antisperm antibodies, but deficient in DQW3. HLA class II-DR4, DR6, and DR7 sharing in couples and deficiency of DQW3 may be associated with circulating antisperm antibody production.