ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the relationship between pemphigus vulgaris (PV) and human leukocyte antigen (HLA) in Han nation of northeast China.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Standard microcytotoxicity test and polymerase chain reaction-sequence specific primers method were used to detect the HLA class I antigens and HLA-DRB1 and DQB1 alleles in 27 patients with PV and results were compared with control group.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Gene and phenotype frequencies of HLA-A3, A26(10), B60(40), and B13 (27.99%, 48%; 16.11%, 30%; 23.02%, 41%; 16.11%, 30%, respectively) increased significantly in PV group compared with control (1.01%, 2%; 0.5%, 1%; 4.61%, 9%; 5.13%, 10%, respectively). After P value correction, the difference of A3, A26 (10), and B60 (40) between the two groups was still significant. The gene frequencies of HLA-DRB1*140x (1401, 1404, 1405, 1407, 1408), DRB1*120x, and DQB1*0503 alleles in PV group (42.26%, 25.46%, and 23.02%) were significantly higher than control group (5.09%, 7.74%, and 1.89%). After P value correction, the difference was still significant between the two groups.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>PV significantly relates with HLA in PV patients of Han nation of northeast China.</p>