HLA antigen frequencies in end-stage idiopathic and ischaemic cardiomyopathy

We investigated the distribution of HLA antigens among 413 patients with ischaemic heart disease or dilated cardiomyopathy referred for cardiac transplantation to determine if possession of certain HLA antigens predisposed to end-stage heart failure. Of the patients studied, 234 had ischaemic heart disease (218 males), mean age 49 years (SD 7.1) and 179 patients had dilated cardiomyopathy (150 males), mean age 39 years (12.8). The control group comprised 2041 kidney donors reported to the United Kingdom Transplant Service between July and August 1985. We found a significant excess of HLA DR1 (odds ratio 1.64, 95% CI 1.16–2.33, attributable risk 5.0%) and DR5 antigens (odds ratio 1.47, 95% CI 0.99–2.18, attributable risk) among patients with dilated cardiomyopathy but not of HLA DR4 as previously reported. We found a lower frequency than expected of HLA B21 (10.44 expected, none observed) among patients with ischaemic heart disease but no other significant differences. This study provides some support for the concept of the risk of developing end-stage heart failure due to dilated cardiomyopathy being associated with possession of HLA DR1 and DR5, but no such evidence in ischaemic heart disease. Larger multi-centre studies are required to confirm the validity of these findings.