HLA-Polymorphismus und Assoziationen mit der Dilatativen Kardiomyopathie, der Inflammatorischen Kardiomyopathie und der Myokarditis

We have undertaken this study to determine possible associations between myocarditis with and without cardiac dysfunction or idiopathic DCM and MHC class II, in particular HLA DQB1, alleles in a german population. Typing of HLA DQB1* allele was performed using a sequence-specific primer SSP-PCR technique in 22 unrelated patients with idiopathic DCM, 19 patients with myocarditis and normal left ventricular function, and 16 patients with myocarditis and impaired left ventricular function (i.e. inflammatory DCM). Controls comprised 44 patients without (inflammatory) cardiac disease and a population control. A significant association was found for presence of HLA DQB1*0303 with myocarditis without cardiac dysfunction in comparison to both control groups. In patients with inflammatory heart muscle disease (myocarditis or inflammatory DCM) a significant association was found with the presence of DQB1*03, DQB1*0301 and DQB1* 0303 as well as combination of both alleles. Allelic combination HLA DQB1*02-DQB1*03 is associated with inflammatory dilated cardiomyopathy. We were able to find associations between inflammatory heart muscle diseases and specific HLA-DQB1*alleles. In future and if confirmed by a larger prospective study HLA- DQB*1 alleles may be used as a diagnostic or prognostic marker.