HLA system and penicillamine induced pemphigus in nine cases of rheumatoid arthritis.

Nine cases of penicillamine induced pemphigus (PIP) in rheumatoid arthritis patients are reported. Clinical, histological and serological data were compared with previously published cases. No correlation between the occurrence of HLA A, B, DR antigens and PIP was found, even when the data was combined with that from 13 cases described in the literature.