[HLA antigens in uveitis anterior (author's transl)].

From January 1977 to May 1978, 101 patients with anterior uveitis were typed for HLA antigens. All came from the southwestern area of Germany, and 75 of these patients exhibited no signs of associated systemic disease (21 under 20 years of age, 54 over 20). In this group of 75 patients without associated systemic disease, a B27 frequency of 33.3% (8.9% in a random population) and a Cwl frequency of 16.0% (5.8% in a random population) was found as well as a B27-Cwl linkage of 13.3% (1.9% in a random population). A significant association with HLA antigens was found in (1) the adult form of anterior uveitis (disease onset over 20 years of age), namely, B27 antigen 38.9%, Cwl antigen 18.5%, B27-Cwl linkage 16.7%; and (2) male patients with anterior uveitis but without associated systemic disease, namely, B27 antigen 46.2%, Cwl antigen 17.9%, and B27-Cwl linkage 17.9%. No significant association with HLA antigens was found in (1) the juvenile form of anterior uveitis (disease onset under 20 years of age) and (2) female patients with anterior uveitis but without associated systemic disease.