HL-A antigens in patients with guttate psoriasis

Abstract
Tissue typing was performed of 62 patients with guttate psoriasis, in 44 of whom this was the 1st manifestation of the disease. In 84% of the cases, the guttate psoriasis was preceded by a clinical infection. A highly significant excess of antigen HL-A-BW17 was found in patients when compared with a healthy population. Antigens HL-A-B13, HL-A-BW15 and HL-A-BW21 were found in excess, but these became non-significant after correction for the number of antigens studied. Of the patients who had guttate psoriasis de novo, 68% subsequently developed persistent plaque psoriasis.