Analysis of HLA antigens in Croatian patients with psoriasis

In common with most autoimmune diseases, psoriasis is associated with some HLA antigens, We studied the distribution of HLA antigens in Croatian patie nts with psoriasis: 108 patients were divided into groups according to fami ly history and age of disease onset. KLA antigens were analyzed serological ly and HLA-C alleles were analyzed using polymerase chain reaction. We foun d significant increases in HLA-AZ, -B17, -B37 and -B13 antigens and highly significant increases in HLA-Cw*0602 and DR7 antigens in psoriatic patients compared with controls. Patients with type I psoriasis (early onset, posit ive family history) showed highly significant associations with Cw*0602 [p< 0.00001; relative risk (RR)=14.45] and DR7 (p<0.00001; RR=15.09) antigens. Patients with type II psoriasis (late onset, no family history) had a signi ficant association with Cw*03 antigen (p=0.008; RR=0.17). In conclusion, HL A-B13, -B17, Cw*0602 and -DR7 antigens are associated with a significant ri sk of psoriasis in the Croatian population and the Cw*0602 allele has the s trongest association, especially for type I psoriasis.