[HL-A system and diabetes mellitus].

In 19 families of juvenile diabetes patients intravenous glucose tolerance was tested and HLA antigens were determined. A total of 68 first degree blood relations (siblings, parents, children) was studied. Taking the age dependent variabilities of the glucose assimilation coefficient (k-value) into consideration, glucose intolerance was found in 35.5% of the blood relations. Particularly in blood relations (above all in siblings) aged under 35 and with glucose intolerance, a trend to increased frequencies of those HLA antigens (B8, BW15, CW3) associated with juvenile diabetes was found, but it is not yet clear whether this association will be of practical significance.