The prognostic value of HLA phenotypes in Hodgkin's disease

Analysis of a group of 79 patients with previously untreated Hodgkin's disease, whose HLA phenotypes were determined in 1972-73, shows that patients in a sub-group with the specificities collectively known as Aw19 have significantly poorer survival than patients without these specificities. The degree to which the serologically-detectable HLA antigens assist in determining the prognosis for survival has been analyzed using multiple regression analysis and retrospective stratification. Both approaches indicate that the association of HLA phenotype with survival is not accounted for by correlations between HLA antigens and other know prognostic factors, such as stage, histology, age, and sex. The greatest prognostic value of Aw19 appears to be for patients with relatively unfavorable age (greater than 40 years), stage (III and IV), or histology (lymphocyte depletion, mixed cellularity).