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Knowledge of the prevalence of human platelet antigens (HPA) in different populations is important for effective diagnosis and management of immune-mediated platelet disorders. The purpose of this study was to determine HPA gene frequencies in the majority Han ethnic population of China and in ethnic She and Tajik minority populations. Using PCR sequence specific primers, HPA- 1, -2, -3, -4, -5, and -6, we determined genotypes for ethnic Han, She, and Tajik blood donors. HPA gene frequencies for Chinese Han were found to be similar to those of She, reflecting the historic affinities of these two populations. HPA gene frequencies for Tajik were closer to those for Caucasians than to Chinese Han, She, or other Asian populations, reflecting their disparate origin and historic geographic isolation. HPA gene frequencies in these Chinese populations reflect their historic origins. Knowledge of these findings may be used to better understand and treat immune-mediated platelet disorders in these populations.

Since 1973 a number of studies have been conducted on the association of HLA with myasthenia gravis (MG). (Safwenberg et al. 1973, Fritze et al. 1973, Naeim et al. 1978, Bodmer & Bodmer 1978, Behan 1980). Most of these studies involved Caucasians. In this paper we report on a study carried out in Chinese patients with M.G.