Immune response factors in rheumatic heart disease: meta-analysis of HLA-DR associations and evaluation of additional class II alleles.

OBJECTIVES

This study used a meta-analysis to examine HLA-DR frequencies in rheumatic heart disease and prospectively examined other class II allelic disease associations.

BACKGROUND

Studies of rheumatic heart disease have reported HLA class II allelic associations, but these are inconsistent.

METHODS

A meta-analysis combined all known (n = 10) studies to determine disease risk associated with HLA-DR antigen expression. Meta-analysis of studies grouped by ethnic derivation of subjects was also performed. The present study also examined DQA, DQB and DPB allele frequencies by DNA-based strategies.

RESULTS

Meta-analysis showed a significant negative disease association with DR5 (odds ratio [OR] 0.67, p < 0.00003) for all combined studies. Among black patients, DR1 was increased (OR 2.80, p < 0.004); DR6 was increased (OR, 2.03, p < 0.003); and DR 8 was decreased (OR 0.32, p < 0.02). Among Eastern Indian patients, DR3 was increased (OR 2.44, p < 0.00003), with decreased expression for DR2 (OR 0.31, p < 0.00001) and DR5 (OR 0.52, p < 0.05). DR4 was increased among American whites (OR 1.74, p < 0.03), although there was significant heterogeneity among studies of whites. DQA, DQB and DPB allele frequencies were similar for control subjects and patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings support an association between major histocompatibility complex class II alleles and risk for rheumatic heart disease. However, heterogeneity in associations was observed among different ethnic and racial groups; regional and temporal differences in streptococcal outbreaks may compound this heterogeneity. Further studies are necessary to elucidate the respective contributions of these variables.