HL-A antigens in Europeans and Maoris with rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease.

Using a standard microtoxicity technique of tissue typing, the distribution of tissue antigens in 75 Maoris and 514 European disease-free blood donors was determined. Fifty Maori and 50 Europeans with rheumatic fever or rheumatic heart disease were compared with each control group. Normal Maoris had HL-A3 less frequently than Europeans (P less than .0005). HL-A28 was reduced (P less than .005) and HL-A17 increased in European patients (P less than .0005). In Maori patients there were minor differences in the frequency of HL-A3 and 8, which were increased, and HL-A10, which was diminished.