HLA and ceruloplasmin phenotypes in lupus erythematosus and circumscribed scleroderma

The incidence rates of combinations of A and B loci histocompatibility antigens in loci and haplotypes and of ceruloplasmin phenotypes have been examined in 137 patients with lupus erythematosus (LE) and scleroderma circumscriptum (SC). The studies have revealed that LE and SC are associated with certain haplotypes and HLA antigens combinations, this indicating the contribution of these phenotypes to the realization of the genetic predisposition to these diseases. In A1B8 haplotype carriers the disease is characterized by a benign course and manifests by integument forms of LE and scleroderma. IN A2B8 haplotype carriers the disease is more grave and presents as the systemic variant of LE. The third type of ceruloplasmin not detectable in normal subjects is usually associated with A9B18, A25B18, A3B27 haplotypes and with HLA A3A9 antigenic combination mostly in LE patients.