Although the DRB1*08-DQA1*0401-DQB1*04 haplotype was significantly associated with PBC, consistent with other studies, this haplotype nevertheless represented only 19% (14/72) of all PBC patients and can account for only a minority of the risk of PBC.
The associations between PBC and B8, DR3, DQA1*0501, and DQB1*0201, which are frequently found together on the same haplotype, are at variance with recent reports on associations between PBC and Drw8.