Journal of Dental Medicine

This review was focused on investigations in the relationship between human leukocyte antigens and periodontal disease. Several studies have looked for relationship between HLA phenotypes and early onset periodontitis (EOP). There have also been reports on both positive and negative relationship between specific HLA antigens and periodontal disease. Positive relationship has been reported among HLA-A1, A9, A24, A28, A33, B15, B22, B35, B44, C4, DR2, DR4, DR7, DR53, DRB1, DQ3 and DQB1 antigens and different forms of EOP. Several studies have reported negative relationship with HLA-A2, A5, A10, A28, A68, B5, DR2 and DR6. Two antigens that appear to be more related to EOP are HLA-A9 and DR4. Evidence suggests that genes in this area are not genes with major effect for early-onset periodontal diseases. It is possible that genes in the MHC region of chromosome 6 may function as modifying genes that affect clinical expression of periodontal disease. However, additional documents are needed to evaluate the relationship of HLA antigens with periodontal disease. These documents should have adequate controls, which account for racial differences in HLA type and well-defined patient groups whose state of disease is described