Histocompatibility antigens in polymyalgia rheumatica and giant cell arteritis

Fifty-five Caucasoid patients with polymyalgia rheumatica or giant cell arteritis were typed for HLA, A, B, C and DR locus antigens. In the total patient group, DR4 had a significantly increased frequency. The prevalence of CW3 and CW6 was also significantly increased, the rise of CW3 possibly being attributable to its well-documented linkage disequilibrium with DR4. The rise in CW6 cannot be attributed to its known linkage disequilibrium with DR7.