Mediastinal fibrosis is associated with human leukocyte antigen-A2.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the association between mediastinal fibrosis and human leukocyte antigen (HLA) genes.


METHODS
Case-control study.


METHODS
Vanderbilt University Medical Center.


METHODS
Nineteen consecutive patients with mediastinal fibrosis who presented to the pulmonary clinic at Vanderbilt University Medical Center from 1987 to 1996. The control subjects were 21,086 whites who were cadaveric kidney donors from October 1987 through December 1993.


METHODS
HLA testing was performed on blood samples from all 19 cases. Information on HLA typing for the control subjects was obtained from the United Network for Organ Sharing. Frequency of HLA class I and II antigens found in the cases was compared with the frequency in the control subjects.


RESULTS
The relative risk of mediastinal fibrosis among subjects with the HLA-A2 antigen was 3.32 times that of those who lacked this antigen (95% confidence interval, 1.19 to 9. 2).


CONCLUSIONS
HLA-A2 was strongly associated with mediastinal fibrosis, suggesting that an abnormal immune response is important in the pathogenesis of this disease. Key words: Histoplasma capsulatum; human leukocyte antigen-A2; mediastinal fibrosis
Peebles
R S
RS
Center for Lung Research and Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37232-2386, USA.
Carpenter
C T
CT
Dupont
W D
WD
Loyd
J E
JE
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005355:Fibrosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D005787:Gene Frequency / Q000235:genetics; D015789:HLA-A2 Antigen / Q000235:genetics*; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000235:genetics; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000235:genetics; D006650:Histocompatibility Testing; D006660:Histoplasmosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008477:Mediastinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012306:Risk
D015789:HLA-A2 Antigen; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II