Studies of HLA-ABC and DR antigens in pure atopic dermatitis and atopic dermatitis combined with allergic respiratory disease.

The HLA-ABC antigens were investigated in 29 patients with pure atopic dermatitis and 43 patients with atopic dermatitis combined with atopic respiratory disease (ARD). Furthermore, the DR antigens were studied in 10 patients with dermatitis alone and in 24 patients with combined atopic disease. The frequencies of antigens and the HLA phenotypes A1, B8 and A3, B7 in the entire group of patients and in two subgroups did not differ significantly from those in controls, when correction was made for the number of comparisons made. However, the frequency of HLA-DR7 was strikingly low, but this observation needs confirmation. IgE levels were measured in eight patients with pure dermatitis and in 24 patients with dermatitis combined with ARD and found equally increased in both groups compared to controls.