Occurrence of HLA Types in H. Influenzae Type B Disease

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Abstract
Some 50 Caucasoid children under 7 yr of age with H. influenzae b disease were studied. Of the patients (Group A) had invasive disease shown by positive blood and/or SF culture. The other half (Group B) had non-invasive disease characterized by fever, nasopharyngitis, negative blood culture, and positive throat culture. Age, number of other siblings under 12 yr old in the family, immune response, antibody production and genetic markers were compared in the 2 groups. Significant difference between the 2 groups was only seen in their genetic markers. HLA-B12 was present in 52% of Group A patients as opposed to 16% in Group B patients (P < 0.01). HLA-Bw40 was present in 24% of group B patients and absent in all Group A patients (P < 0.01). Apparently susceptibility and resistance towards developing invasive type b disease may be genetically determined.