HLA and pancreatic islet cell antibodies in diabetes.

The frequency of HLA-B8 was significantly increased in pancreatic islet cell antibody (P.I.C.A)-positive patients (61%) compared with P.I.C.A.-negative patients (35%) and a control population (28%). This increased frequency of HLA-B8 was even more striking in diabetics in whom P.I.C.A. persisted for more than 5 years (71%). Thus the association of HLA-B8 with diabetes may be related to the presence of P.I.C.A. in these patients.