Association of HLA class I and class II alleles with psoriasis vulgaris in Turkish population. Influence of type I and II psoriasis.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the role of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) in susceptibility to psoriasis vulgaris in the Northeast region of Turkey and to contribute to the data related to HLA and psoriasis.

METHODS: The study included 72 unrelated psoriatic patients (43 men and 29 women; aged 11-76 years) admitted to the Dermatology Department, University Research Hospital, Erzurum, Turkey between April 2002 and November 2003. We studied the distribution of HLA class I and II antigens in patients with psoriasis: 72 patients were divided into 2 groups according to the onset of psoriasis before age 40 years with family history (type I) and onset after age 40 without family history (type II). The HLA class I and II antigens were analyzed using the PCR-SSP method in 72 patients and in 104 controls.

RESULTS: We found an increase in HLA-A*30 and A*68, B*7, B*13, B*57, Cw6, and DRB1*07 antigens in psoriatic patients compared with controls. As we compared type I and type II psoriasis with control group, B*57, Cw6 and DRB1*07 alleles were more significant in patients with type I psoriasis. Our patients with type II psoriasis represented a significant association with the HLA-B*13.

CONCLUSION: Our findings along with previous HLA studies on psoriasis vulgaris patients from different racial groups showed that HLA-B*57 and DRB1*07 alleles are associated with the disease.