Recurrent herpetic keratitis and HLA antigens.

A non-selected group of 50 patients with recurrent herpetic keratitis, subclassified into groups of stromal or epithelial forms was typed for HLA-ABC antigens. In none of the groups was a statistically significant association to a certain HLA antigen found. When these data are combined with other reviewed reports on HLA types in recurrent herpetic keratitis, a statistically significant association between HLA-B5 and the whole group of recurrent herpetic keratitis, as well as between the subgroup of recurrent stromal keratitis, could be demonstrated. Recurrent epithelial keratitis showed an insignificant association to this antigen.