HLA Antigens and Acquired Valvular Heart Disease

Abstract

The frequency of HLA antigens was determined in 133 patients with acquired valvular heart disease and compared with the frequency of HLA antigens in 1,000 normal individuals by the relative incidence ratio method of Woolf (1955). No significant increases were observed. However, when the patients were divided into those with no rheumatic history and those who have had rheumatic fever or chorea, a significant increase in AW 30/31 and A29 was observed in the group with no rheumatic history.