HLA antigens and malaria at San Lazaro Hospital Manila, Philippines

Human leucocyte antigens (HLA) were used as genetic markers in an attempt to determine possible host genetic susceptibility or resistance to malarial infections. HLA-A and B typing on lymphocytes from 68 confirmed P. falciparum and 77 P. vivax cases was compared with that found in 66 control subjects with no known history of malaria. A significant deviation was observed in the distribution of HLA-B27. This phenotype was absent in the P. falciparum group although found present in the P. vivax group (10%) and the control group (11%). Also, the combination of A9(w24) and B5 was significantly higher among the P. falciparum group than that found in the P. vivax and control groups. These findings require confirmation but do suggest the possibility of genetic susceptibility and that extensive genetic studies might be worth investigating.