Histocompatibility determinants in idiopathic scoliosis

The HLA antigen distribution in 64 random scoliosis patients has been determined. Of the surgical group (greater than 50 degrees), the specificity W19 was increased. In the nonsurgical group (less than 45 degrees) the W19 specificity was also increased; however, the only specificity significantly increased was A29 (X2=11.64, P=less than .02). These observations are preliminary and more extensive work is needed to establish the relevance of the major histocompatibility system in the etiology and progression of idiopathic scoliosis.