Do specific HLA antigens predispose to ischaemic heart disease or idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy?

BACKGROUND The aetiology of idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy is believed to have an immunological component. Association with human leucocyte antigens (HLAs) has been previously reported, particularly with HLA-DR4. AIM To determine the association of HLA type with diagnosis in a group of patients assessed for heart transplantation. METHODS A comparison was made of frequencies of HLA types in patients with a diagnosis of idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy or (n = 98) ischaemic heart disease (n = 170) and in controls from the North Western region (n = 857). RESULTS Neither the patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy nor those with ischaemic heart disease showed a significant increase or decrease in any HLA frequency compared with the controls. CONCLUSION These results suggest that there is no HLA association with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy or ischaemic heart disease. This conflicts with the results of some previous studies.