Increased frequency of HLA-DRw3 in systemic lupus erythematosus

The distribution of HLA antigens was studied in 40 patients suffering from systemic lupus erythematosus. For loci A and B, increased frequencies of A1, B8 and the presence of only one B antigen were found. Nevertheless, in relation to the number of antigens tested, this increase was not significant. For the DRw locus, DRw3 was significantly increased (P < 0.001, after correction for the 39 antigens tested). However, the patients with DRw3 did not show any correlation with a specific clinical picture or the presence in their serum of lymphocytotoxic antibodies or autoantibodies against T and B lymphocytes.