Epidemic and endemic HLA-B and DR associations in mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome

HLA-A,B and DR antigens were evaluated in 51 patients with mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome (Kawasaki disease) during both endemic and epidemic periods in the Boston area. Although 80% of patients were HLA-B5 (70% HLA-Bw51) during endemic periods, there were no HLA-B5 individuals during the epidemic period. There was, however, an increased incidence of HLA-Bw44 during the Boston epidemic. Such different associations in endemic versus epidemic periods suggest possible different, as yet unknown, inciting agents.