HLA antigens in patients with Heberden's nodes

Tissue typing was performed on a group of 51 patients with Heberden's nodes (HN) (45 Ashkenazic and 6 non-Ashkenazic Jews). The frequency of HLA-DR2 was higher (P = 0.03) in the Ashkenazic patients than in the Ashkenazic controls. However, the association was not significant after correction for the number of tested alleles at that locus. In the second part of the study, HLA typing was performed on subjects from a family with multiple HN occurrences. Of the 13 family members typed, 9 had HN: 6 of these had the haplotype A2, Bw35, DR2. We conclude that the development of HN may be influenced by genetic factors. Our results may suggest an association between HN and HLA-DR2 in Ashkenazic Jews.