HLA-DR antigens and insulin dependent diabetes mellitus in the west of Ireland

AN increase in four HLA antigens was found in a group of 49 unrelated insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) patients from the West of Ireland. There was an increase in HLA-B8 and HLA B15 but these were secondary to the increases in HLA-DR3 and DR4. DR4 was significantly associated with IDDM and had a higher relative risk for the disease than did DR3. A selective decrease in B12 in male patients and an association between DR4 and younger age at onset of disease was noticed.