Oral lichen planus and HLA B.

Oral lichen planus (OLP) is mucocutaneous autoimmune disease of still unknown etiology. Among all etiological factors, OLP can be associated with carbohydrate disorders. As it is known that some HLA B and DR 3/4 antigens are cross-linked, we have determined the frequencies of HLA B antigens in group of 50 Croatian patients (5 males) with OLP and compared them with the 1089 healthy controls. Alterations in the frequencies of several HLA B antigens were noted, in particular, the frequencies of HLA B 15 were 4 times higher, and HLA B18 were 4 times lower compared with controls. The OLP patients with carbohydrate metabolism disorders had more frequently HLA B16, B2 and B40 and the patients with OLP without disturbed carbohydrate metabolism had more frequently HLA B5, B7 and BX. HLA B15 and B18 are closely connected with DR 3/4 antigens in diabetes mellitus, so these particular antigens may predispose a person to a lichen planus.