HLA antigens in mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome in New England

HLA antigens were evaluated in 27 patients with mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome (Kawasaki disease) in the Boston area. In contrast to previous Japanese studies, no incidence of HLA-Bw22 was found. A significant increase (P < .002), however, in HLA-Bw51 was found in the patients with mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome as compared to an appropriate control population. To our knowledge, this is only the second disease associated with HLA-B5 specificity. The observations illustrate the lack of unified genetic predisposition for a disease in two ethnic groups, white and Japanese. Such findings may have genetic implications regarding interhuman variation in immune responsiveness.