HLA antigen frequencies in paralytic dementia.

HLA typing was performed on 75 caucasian and 58 black patients with paralytic dementia hospitalized at 2 state mental institutions in New York. Serological testing was performed to confirm previous infection with T. pallidum. The caucasian patients showed an increase in B18(18.7% vs. 9.6% in controls). The black patients showed an increase in A2 (48.3% vs. 28.7% in controls) and an increase in B7 (27.6% vs. 15.7% in controls.