PCR determination of an association between Class II HLA and pemphigus vulgaris

Pemphigus vulgaris (PV) is an autoimmune blistering disease affecting the s kin and mucous membranes. It is characterized by the presence of an autoant ibody directed against desmoglein 3, which causes acantholysis and blister formation. In this study, we examined the HLA antigens of 30 caucasian arge ntinian patients compared with 199 controls. We used the PCR-SSO method (Po lymerase Chain Reaction-Sequence Specific Oligonucleotide). We found that P V patients had significantly increased frequencies of HLA DR4 (RR = 3.80, P = 0.001) and HLA DR 14 (RR = 5.97, P = 0.0001). As in other populations, t wo associated alleles were found: the first was DR beta 1*0402 (RR = 44.70, P = 10.7) and DQ beta 1*0302 (RR = 71.82, P = 10(-7)) and the second was D R beta 1* 1401 (RR = 117.94, P = 10(-7)) y DQ beta 1* 0503 (RR = 86.95, P = 10(-7)).