Distinct clinical differences between HLA-Cw*0602 positive and negative psoriasis patients--an analysis of 1019 HLA-C- and HLA-B-typed patients.

A major susceptibility gene for psoriasis is located in the major histocompatibility complex class I region on chromosome 6 very close to the HLA-Cw6 gene. We collected a cohort of 1,019 patients with chronic plaque psoriasis. The patients were typed for HLA-C and HLA-B.

Psoriasis patients who are homozygous for the HLA-Cw*0602 allele have a 2.5-fold increased risk of developing psoriasis compared with Cw6 heterozygotes.

Background: Psoriasis is strongly associated with certain human leucocyte-associated antigens, especially HLA-Cw*0602. Patients who are HLA-Cw*0602 positive have been reported to have more active disease and a younger age at disease onset than HLA-Cw6-negative patients.

Objectives: To ascertain whether there are differences in the clinical features and relative risk between HLA-Cw*0602 homozygous and heterozygous psoriasis patients.

A susceptibility gene for psoriatic arthritis maps to chromosome 16q: evidence for imprinting.

Several genetic loci have been reported for psoriasis, but none has been specifically linked to psoriatic arthritis (PsA), a condition that affects >10% of patients with psoriasis. A genetic component for PsA is suggested by segregation within families and high concordance among identical twins. We performed a linkage scan to map genes contributing to PsA.

HLA-Cw6-positive and HLA-Cw6-negative patients with Psoriasis vulgaris have distinct clinical features.

Psoriasis is associated with HLA-Cw6, and Caucasians who carry this allele have about a 10-fold increased risk of developing psoriasis. We have HLA-C typed 369 patients with familial psoriasis and compared the clinical features of the patients carrying HLA-Cw6 against those carrying other HLA-C types. Some striking clinical differences were observed between the two groups.

[Herpes simplex esophagitis in immunocompetent individuals.].

Objective: Infections by herpes simplex viruses (HSV) are common but esophageal involvement is relatively rare. It is most frequently diagnosed in immunocompromized patients. We describe four healthy, young men with HSV esophagitis and review the literature on the subject.

Prevention of congenital rubella in Iceland by antibody screening and immunization of seronegative females.

A programme to eradicate congenital rubella from Iceland was started in 1979, based on (1) screening of all females aged 12-45 years for rubella antibodies and (2) vaccination of all seronegative persons with the RA/27/3 rubella vaccine, given free of charge. Thus, individual protection was offered to all who needed it. The collection of serum samples was planned to last for 2 years while, simultaneously, the already established rubella screening and immunization programmes for 12-year-old schoolgirls and pregnant women continued.

Detection of measles IgM antibodies by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the detectors of IgM antibodies in serum during acute or recent measles infections is described. False positive reactions due to rheumatoid factors (RF) were not observed in the test of human sera to which were added sera containing RF. Monospecific antisera against the haemagglutinin, nucleoprotein and polymerase of measles virus were used in a blocking IgM ELISA, revealing a sensitive method for the detection of the antibodies that take part in the immune reactions.