HLA antigens in juvenile dermatitis herpetiformis
Richiardi, P.; Borelli, I.; Malavasi, F.; Curtoni, E.S.; Berti, E.; Gianotti, F.; Giannetti, A.
Acta Dermato-Venereologica 61(3): 241-244
1981
ISSN/ISBN: 0001-5555 PMID: 6167108 Document Number: 172479
The incidence of histocompatibility antigens HLA-A, B, C and DR was studied in 32 Italian children with dermatitis herpetiformis. A significantly increased relative risk [R.R.] was found for B8 (R.R. = 6.2), which was present in 50% of the patients as against 14% of the controls and for DR3 (R.R. = 11.7), present in 69% of the patients as against 16%. DR7 appeared to be increased, but only among DR3-negative patients. There was no significant difference in the incidence of DR3 between children with abnormal and normal jejunal biopsy, though there seems to be a difference in expressivity of the intestinal involvement between DR3 apparent homozygous, DR3 heterozygous and DR3-negative patients.