ABSTRACT
The distribution of HLA class-I (A, B and C), and class II (DR and DQ) antigens was studied in 50 randomly selected Kashmiri Muslim patients with established rheumatic heart disease and compared with that of 50 controls of similar ethnicity. A significant increase in the frequency of HLA-DR4 (P < 0.005, RR 3.27) and a significant decrease in the frequency of HLA-B5 (P < 0.001, RR 0.19) were found in the patient group. Though HLA-DQ3 showed a significant increase (P < 0.005, RR 2.52) and HLA-DR7 a significant decrease (P < 0.05, RR 0.42) in the patient group, the corrected P value was not significant. The findings suggest that susceptibility to RHD in the studied population is HLA-related, with HLA-DR4 influencing its occurrence and HLA-B5 conferring protection against the same.
Subject(s)
Adolescent , Adult , Case-Control Studies , Female , HLA Antigens/blood , Humans , India , Islam , Male , Middle Aged , Rheumatic Heart Disease/immunologyABSTRACT
This study included 54 unselected patients with rheumatic heart disease (RHD) with or without history of rheumatic fever and 224 control subjects, all Kashmiris. HLA-A19 was increased in 42.59 percent of patient population as against 23.66 percent of controls, with a relative risk of 2.39. HLA-DR4 was positive in 56 percent of patients as against 31.69 percent in controls with a relative risk of 2.74. DQ3 was also present in 72 percent of patient population as against 50.7 percent of controls. These findings suggest a genetic predisposition to rheumatic fever/RHD. More family studies are warranted.