Association between HLA-B16 and psoriatic spondylitis

The frequency distribution of HLA antigens was studied in a group of 40 patients with psoriatic arthritis from a region in North-eastern Italy. Our results indicate: 1) a strong association, in this population, between HLA-B16 and inflammatory spinal involvement; 2) a failure to confirm previous reports on HLA-B27 increased frequency in psoriatic spondylitis and/or sacroiliitis.