The Major Histocompatibility System and Atherosclerotic Plaque Vulnerability in the NON Q Wave Acute Syndromes. Potential Modulation of the Inflammatory Response

pp. 57-60

Abstract

Background

A close relationship has recently been found between the presence of circulating immunocomplexes containing chlamydial lipopolysaccharide, IgG antibodies to Chlamydia pneumoniae and the inflammatory process in coronary heart disease. We decided to identify the HLA class I antigens and the alleles by sequence specific oligonucletide typing, to determine HLA DR, B1-B3-B4-B5, linked strongly with inflammation considering the evidences relating them to acute coronary syndromes.

Material and method

Blood samples were taken from 39 patients admitted to the coronary care unit suffering from acute unstable angina, from 12 patients during the quiescent phase of a recent AMI or CABG, and 100 blood samples of healthy volunteers as a control
group. Patients were finally divided in two groups: A: 37 patients discharged with medical treatment only, and B: 14 patients who developed refractory angina, AMI, or during the quiescent phase.

Results
There was a high frequency of HLA A 31, and HLA DR B4 with a positive correlation coefficient (correlation coefficient 0.39, p = 0 .01, and correlation coefficient 0 .34, p = 0.02 respectively) in group B compared with group A, and the control group .

Conclusions

These preliminary results suggest a HLA pattern implicated in the modulation of the inflammatory response in acute coronary syndromes.