HLA-DR18 (DR18) is a HLA-DR serotype that recognizes the DRB1*0302 and *0303 gene products.
Compared to DR17 which is found at high frequency in Western Europe, DR18 is found more in SE Europe and Central Asia.
DR18 recognizes the DRB1*0302 and *0303, the thoroughness of recognition is fair, but better than DR3.
DR18 seropositivity is associated with rheumatoid polyarthritis[2] DRB1*0302 is positively associated with juvenile diabetes,[3] nuclear helicase Mi-2 autoantibodies in inflammatory inclusion body myositis.
[4] HLA-DR18 is genetically linked to DR52 and HLA-DQ2 serotypes.