HL-A antigens in patients with guttate psoriasis.

Tissue typing was performed on lymphocytes of sixty-two patients with guttate psoriasis, in forty-four of whom this was the first manifestations of the disease. In 84% of cases, the guttate psoriasis was preceded by a clinical infection. A highly significant excess of antigen W17 (HLA-BW17) was found in patients when compared with healthy population. In common with some other studies antigens HL-A13 (HLA-B13), W15 (HLA-BW15) and W21 (HLA-BW21) were found in excess but these became non-significant after correction for the number of antigens studied. 68% of patients who had guttate psoriasis de novo, subsequently developed persistent plaque psoriasis.