Analysis of HLA antigen association with proliferative diabetic retinopathy.

One hundred and thirteen patients with insulin dependent diabetes mellitus for at least 15 years were typed for 22 HLA antigens of the A and B series. Fifty-six patients had severe bilateral proliferative retinopathy and 57 had no retinopathy. There was no statistical difference in frequency of HLA antigens between the 2 groups of diabetic patients. There was a significantly higher frequency of HLA B15 and a significant lower frequency of HLA B14, B17 in the combined diabetic groups than in a control population of 200 normal blood donors.