HLA Polymorphism in Israel: 6. North African Jews from Libya

Phenotype and gene frequencies of antigens at the A and B HLA loci were determined in a sample of 89 random Libyan Jews now settled in Israel. Most antigens at the A locus are within the range found in European populations while, at the B locus, the frequencies differ from Caucasoid populations: B7 is usually rare (1%), Bw35 is frequent (14%) and Bw40 very common with more than 10%. Thirteen percent of Libyan women whose sera were screened for the presence of HLA antibodies gave positive results. Some of them are elderly women, about 15 years or more beyond their last birth.