HLA-B8 in caucasian patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

HLA antigen frequencies were determined in 27 Caucasians with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). A statistically significant association between HLA-B8 and SLE was found. HLA-B8 occurred in 48% of patients and in 18% of controls (P corr approximately equal to 0.005). The relative risk of SLE for HLA-B8 carriers is 4.23. In addition, SLE patients with later onset of disease more frequently had HLA-A1 and/or HLA-B8. There was no association between any HLA antigen and clinical (renal, central nervous system, and lung involvement) or serological (antinuclear and anti-nDNA antibodies) parameters.