HLA-A, B, C and DR antigens in nickel contact sensitivity.

The relationship between HLA antigens (A, B, C and DR) and nickel contact sensitivity was examined in 54 patients with contact allergy, as confirmed by an unequivocal positive patch-test reaction only to nickel. A control group was 320 healthy blood donors from the same geographical area as the patients. The HLA-A, B, C and DR antigens were typed using standard serological methods. HLA typing revealed a significant increase of HLA-DRw6 antigen in the patient group (corrected P less than 0.025) and the relative risk for patients with DRw6 to develop nickel sensitivity was 3.32.