HLA antigens in diabetics with calcified shoulder periarthritis (CSP)

The distribution frequencies of HLA-A and B antigens was determined in 94 maturity onset diabetics (40 with CSP and 54 without CSP), as well as in 400 unrelated age- and sex-matched Greek controls. The standard NIH technique was used for tissue typing. There was an increased prevalence of the antigen B27 only in diabetics with CSP (35%) when compared either to the controls (6.8%) or to diabetics without CSP (9.2%). The calculated p-corrected values were Pc = 0.00027 and Pc greater than 0.005 respectively. These findings indicate that the MHC in man may control the genetic susceptibility of a subgroup of insulin-independent diabetics to develop CSP.