Histocompatibility antigens in progressive systemic sclerosis (PSS; scleroderma)

Abstract
Patients with progressive systemic sclerosis (PSS; scleroderma) were typed for the HLA-A, -B, and -DR antigens. No significant differences in the frequencies of any HLA-A or -B antigen were found. In the subgroup of patients with PSS and diffuse scleroderma (PSS-DS), the frequency of Bw35 was increased (0.30 vs 0.17 in controls;P0.2). Although patients with PSS-DS also had an increased frequency of DR1 antigen (0.27 vs 0.12 in local controls;PPPP<0.005). This study of a large number of patients with PSS failed to confirm previously reported associations of PSS with the HLA-B8/DR3 haplotype or HLA-DR5 antigen.