The distribution of blood groups and HLA types in 59 cases of congenital dislocation of the hip.

One-hundred-and-eight patients with congenital dislocation of the hip (CDH) were ABO and Rh(D) typed. Fifty-nine of these patients were also HLA-A, -B, and -DR typed whenever technically possible and in addition the Rhesus, MNSs, Lutheran, Kell, Duffy, and Kidd groups were determined as part of a wider study into hereditary factors in CDH. No association was found between CDH and any of these red cell groups and HLA types. A slight trend towards a decrease of the HLA antigens B7 and DR2 was noted, and a slight increase of B27 and DR7. The increase in frequency of group B present in Italian children was not found in this British study, nor did we find an increase of HLA-A1 as previously reported in Greek children with CDH.