HLA-DR antigens in juvenile chronic arthritis.

Twenty-five patients with juvenile chronic arthritis (JCA) were typed for HLA-A,-G,-C and -DR antigens to establish significant differences between normal controls and patients with adult rheumatoid arthritis (RA). HLA-DR antigens were correlated with subgroups of disease, and with several clinical features and immunological parameters of JCA. The frequency of DRW8 antigen was significantly higher in JCA than in normal adult controls or patients with RA. This significance was even higher in the persistent pauciarticular subgroup. Connections were found between DR antigens and clinical, immunological parameters, and some of them proved to be statistically significant. Results are presented and discussed in detail.