H.L.A. antigens in proliferative diabetic retinopathy

One hundred and four patients with diabetes mellitus present for at least 15 years were tissue typed for HLA antigens AI and B8. Fifty six patients had severe proliferative retinopathy and 48 patients no retinopathy. The results were compared with a group of 200 normal blood donors. There was no significant difference in frequency of AI and B8 between the two groups od diabetic patients. The HLA pattern A-I B+8 was more frequently present among the group of patients with proliferative retinopathy.