HLA haplotypes and class II molecular alleles in Argentinian patients with pemphigus vulgaris.
BACKGROUND
Pemphigus is a group of chronic blistering autoimmune diseases of which pemphigus vulgaris (PV) is the more frequent clinical form. The association of PV with the HLA serotypes suggests that there is a genetic predisposition to the disease.


OBJECTIVE
To determine the frequency of class I and class II HLA antigens and the allelic variants of the class II HLA antigens, DR and DQ, in patients with PV and to determine the relative risk.


METHODS
An observational, prospective, transverse, and controlled study carried out between 1995 and 1999. Forty-seven patients with a diagnosis of PV and a control sampling of 199 unselected individuals from the same ethnic group were included. The HLA alleles were determined by polymerase chain reaction.


RESULTS
No significant associations were detected between HLA A, B, or C and our patients. The DR and DQ molecular alleles positively associated with PV were two different haplotypes: DRb1* 0402/DQb1* 0302 and DRb1* 1401/DQb1* 0503.


CONCLUSIONS
In patients with the haplotype DRb1* 0402/DQb1* 0302 the affectation of 10%-30% of the corporal surface prevailed (ACS). In patients with DRb1* 1401/DRQb1* 0503, involvement of <10% of the ACS prevailed.
Hospital de Clínicas Jose de San Martín, Buenos Aires, Argentina. glohaa@yahoo.com
Roberto
R
Glorio
Graciela
G
Rodriguez Costa
Roxana
R
Haas
Mijail
M
Gruber
Leonardo
L
Fainboim
Alberto
A
Woscoff
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000483:Alleles; D001118:Argentina; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005838:Genotype; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D006239:Haplotypes; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010392:Pemphigus / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*
D006680:HLA Antigens; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II