HLA-pattern was analysed in 60 patients with recurrent benign aphthosis (RBA), in another 14 suffering from Behçet's disease (BD) and in 200 healthy individuals, all of German origin. High prevalence rates of HLA-A2, HLA-B5 and HLA-Cw3 haplotypes were found in patients with RBA, yet significant only for HLA-Cw3 (p = 0.01). HLA-B5 was shown in none but two German patients with BD. These results are discussed with particular regard to reports on racial differences of HLA-patterns in the populations of several continents including patients with aphthous disorders.