Meta-analysis of the association between psoriasis and human leucocyte antigen-B

Abstract

Background: Currently there is no consensus about the association between psoriasis and human leucocyte antigen (HLA)-B.

Objectives: To clarify the association between psoriasis and HLA-B.

Methods: Articles were selected, following predefined criteria, from case-control studies on the association between psoriasis and HLA-B published between 1 January 1972 and 11 November 2012, and included in the PubMed and ISI Web of Knowledge databases.

Results: Thirty-seven eligible articles covering 16 206 participants (14 644 white and 1562 Asian) were included. Sixty HLA-B alleles were reported, among which 26 were associated with susceptibility to disease, 24 were protective and 10 were unassociated. For unspecific psoriasis, there were three strongly susceptible alleles (OR ≥ 3·0) in white and four in Asian subjects, with HLA-B*57 and HLA-B*13 common to both races; there were four strongly protective (OR ≤ 0·3) alleles in white and seven in Asian subjects, with HLA-B*07 common to both. For psoriasis vulgaris, nine alleles were strongly associated with susceptibility in white subjects and five in Asians, with HLA-Bw*37 and HLA-B*57 in both; three alleles were strongly protective in white subjects and one in Asians, with none in common. Cases of psoriatic arthritis and guttate psoriasis were reported only in white subjects, with eight and seven strongly susceptible alleles, and two and three strongly protective alleles, respectively. Analyses of onset age showed that praecox patients with family history were significantly more susceptible to HLA-B*13 and HLA-B*57 than tardive ones.

Conclusions: A significant association was identified between psoriasis and 50 HLA-B alleles. The association varied in terms of race, and clinical type and onset age of psoriasis.