ASSOCIATION BETWEEN HLA ANTIGENS AND EARLY-ONSET PERIODONTITIS

HLA-A, B, C and DR antigen frequencies were determined in a group of p atients with juvenile periodontitis and rapidly progressive periodonti tis. In juvenile periodontitis patients, HLA-A24 and DR4 were found at a significantly higher level than in the control group, and in rapidl y progressive periodontitis patients, A9 and DR4 were found at a signi ficantly higher level than the control group. The presence of these an tigens gives evidence as to the susceptibility of various forms of ear ly onset periodontitis.