A study of HLA antigens in adults with acute rheumatic fever.

By use of a microlymphocytotoxic assay to detect 32 HLA antigens of the A and B series, we examined 49 Mexican-American adults with acute rheumatic fever and contrasted the findings with 100 ethnically identical controls. Eighty-nine percent of the total possible antigens were identified. Strong associations between HLA antigens from either locus and acute rheumatic fever were not detected. These findings serve to emphasize the importance of nongenetic factors in the pathogenesis of acute rheumatic fever and help clarify the role of HLA antigens in rheumatic diseases.