[The HLA system and diabetes mellitus].

Diabetes is a heterogeneous disease, and its pathogenesis and etiology are still largely unknown. Recent studies have brought new knowledge showing that HLA antigens and diabetes mellitus are related. It has been found that the relative risk of juvenile onset diabetes requiring insulin treatment is greater for persons who are HLA-A1, A2, B8, BW15, BW40, CW3, DW3, DW4, DRW3 and DRW4 positive. The relative risk of the disease is additive in persons who have two of the above mentioned HLA-B alleles. Some HLA antigens (HLA-B7, DW2, DRW2, A11) are associated with a significantly lower risk of the disease and probably have a "protective" character. Maturity onset diabetes (MOD) and maturity onset diabetes not requiring insulin treatment (MODY) are not related to the HLA system. This means that MOD is completely distinct from JOD with different symptoms, course and etiopathogenesis.