A common HLA phenotype in slipped capital femoral epiphysis?

Studies from three different countries have linked the HLA B12 and DR4 anti gens with slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE). We questioned whether o ur patients shared in common either of these antigens. HLA phenotype was de termined in 7 patients with SCFE, two of whom were brothers with almost ide ntical haplotypes. The B12 antigen was found in none of our patients and th e DR4 in only 3. Neither of the 2 brothers held the DR4 antigen. The common est antigens (also shared by the 2 brothers) were B35, present in 5 and DR5 2 in 4 of 7 patients. We conclude that neither the previously described B12 nor the DR4 antigen can reliably serve as genetic markers for SCFE in our region.