The HLA-DR beta 16 allogenotype constitutes a risk factor for hypertrophic scarring.

Nineteen patients that had developed hypertrophic scars subsequent to thermal injury were typed for HLA class II allogenotypes with the restriction fragment length polymorphism technique. A significant association was found with DR beta 16 (pc = 1.45 x 10(-4); relative risk = 12.25). This finding adds evidence to other data suggesting that immunologic phenomena are involved in pathologic scarring. Moreover, the results presented here have allowed an identification of a genetically determined risk factor for hypertrophic scar formation located in the HLA region.