HLA system and therapy of psoriasis

In 192 patients with psoriasis an increased frequency of the antigens HLA-B13 (19.79%, X2 = 32.79, p less than 0.001), HLA-B17 (24.47%, X2 = 64,84, p less than 0.001), and HLA-B27 (19.27%, X2 = 11.07, p less than 0.001) in comparison with the control group of 1,085 clinically healthy persons, was established. After 4 weeks of thalassotherapy 3 groups of patients could be distinguished: (1) those with full clinical remission - 50 (26.8%), (2) those with great or moderate improvement - 116 (60.4%), and (3) those with no improvement - 26 patients (13.6%). In the first two groups there is a statistically significant association with the HLA antigens B13 and B17. In the third group (no improvement) there is no such association with HLA-B13 (p less than 0.01). Consequently, patients in whom psoriasis is associated with HLA-B13 were better influenced by the thalassotherapy. The variability in the therapeutic efficiency means that perhaps there is a genetic heterogenicity in the group of common psoriasis.