[HLA-A24: risk factor in proliferante diabetic retinopathy].

OBJECTIVE Proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) is characterized by a progressive visual impairment in young people. Human leucocyte antigen (HLA)-A24 is a well-established factor associated with the pancreatic islets of Langerhans lost in this process. Our aim was to study further the relationship of the HLA-A24 associated with PDR. MATERIALS AND METHODS We evaluated a group of patients with PDR (n=95) and a healthy control group (n= 60). HLA-A24 for each participant in the study was determined by molecular hybridization techniques. RESULTS The control group showed a lower frequency of HLA-A24 compared with the PDR group (p = 0.043). HLA-A24 was associated with PDR (OR = 5.4; 95% CI= 3.2-7.6; p< 0.001). CONCLUSIONS HLA-A24 is not a protective factor for PDR, but is a risk factor of its development.