Antibodies to collagen types I-VI in Dupuytren's contracture.

Sera from 16 patients with Dupuytren's contracture were tested for IgG and IgM antibodies to native and denatured human collagen types I, II, III, IV, V and VI. IgG antibody to at least one collagen type was found in 11/16 (69%) of these patients, compared with 27/96 (28%) normal adult blood donor controls. The prevalence of antibody to denatured type II collagen was raised, and although there was no overall increase in HLA-DR4 compared with a control population, this antibody was associated with HLA-DR4 in this patient group.