HLA antigens in diabetic children.

Ninety insulin-dependent diabetic children were HLA-typed in order to elucidate the role played by HLA complex-linked genes in the pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus of childhood. HLA-Aw30 and HLA-Bw35 were significantly increased and decreased, respectively, in the diabetic group as compared with controls. In relation to age at onset of diabetes, HLA-B8 was significantly increased in the 0-5-year group. By dividing the patients according to the season at onset of the disease, only HLA-Aw30 in the October-January group reached the level of significance.