Significant association of HLA-Cw and HLA-DRB1 alleles with recurrent aphthous stomatitis

Abstract Objectives The aim of this study was to investigate the genetic association between recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) and human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class 1 and class 2 alleles. Materials and methods Nucleotide sequence level typing of HLA-A, -B, -Cw, and -DRB1 alleles was performed on Japanese patients with RAS and their families. The subjects that participated in this study consisted of 25 families that had at least one patient suffering from RAS. Results One HLA-Cw allele, Cw*0303, and three HLA-DRB1 alleles, DRB1*0401, DRB1*0803 and DRB1*1101, showed a significant positive association with RAS. No HLA-A and HLA-B alleles showed significant association with RAS. Conclusion The present study strongly suggests the significant positive association of HLA alleles with RAS. No HLA-A and HLA-B alleles showed significant association with RAS. Thus, the present study indicates that HLA alleles, or closely linked loci, may be involved in the pathogenesis of RAS.