HLA antigens in Omani psoriasis vulgaris patients

To determine the frequency of different HLA- antigens in patients with plaque psoriasis in the Omani Arab population. Fifty four Omani patients clinically diagnosed with plaque psoriasis attending the dermatology outpatient clinic in Al-Nahdah Hospital [the tertiary dermatology centre in Oman] were selected for HLA studies. HLA-B52 was present in 20.4% of patients 11/54 and in 5% of controls without psoriasis 5/100. For the association p was <0.004 and the relative risk [RR] was 4.86. Psoriasis does not appear to be associated universally with the same HLA antigens. The association of HLA-B52 with plaque psoriasis in Omani patients compares with the HLA- Cw6, -Bw57 and -DR7 preponderance in most other ethnic groups