Human leukocyte antigens and malignant essential hypertension

The purpose of this study was to investigate an association between human leukocyte antigens (HLA) and the susceptibility to malignant hypertension. The presence of HLA-A, -B, -DR, and -DQ was determined in 33 white and in 23 mulatto Brazilian patients with malignant essential hypertension. No statistically significant differences were detected between patients and control subjects. It is nevertheless important to note that we have observed an increased frequency of DR3 in the mulatto patients (34.8% v 21.4%). We consider that this finding supports the existence of an HLA-DR3 association with hypertension in the black population, as has been claimed by other authors.