ASSOCIATION OF SECRETOR STATUS AND RHEUMATIC FEVER IN 106 FAMILIES1

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Abstract
The 512 subjects studied were members of 106 families. The index parent was rheumatic in 69 families and nonrheumatic in 37 families. No significant differences are observed in the proportion of nonsecretors among rheumatic and nonrheumatic subjects. Although two-thirds of the index parents are rheumatic, in contrast with fewer than 10% of their spouses or children, the proportion of nonsecretors is not higher. Rheumatic fever does not occur more frequently among children with one or both parents nonsecretor, than when both parents are secretors. Subjects who are homozygous or heterozygous nonsecretors do not have rheumatic fever more frequently than individuals who have no known nonsecretor parents, siblings or offspring. These observations do not support the hypothesis that secretor status is associated with susceptibility to rheumatic fever.