Familial Atrioventricular Heart Block of Adult Onset: Electrocardiogram and HLA Typing Analysis

EBISAWA, K., et.al .: Familial Atrioventricular Heart Block of Adult Onset: Electrocardiogram and HLA Typing Analysis . A family was investigated because of heart block and sinus arrhythmia. The electrical characteristics were: (1) adult onset in all members; (2) complete heart block with atrial fibrillation in 2, and first- or second-degree heart block in 7 members; and (3) sinus arrhythmia in 3 members. Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) typing was performed. HLA A2, B39, Cw7, and DR12 were positive in 4 of 5 members in the heart block group. In the sinus arrhythmia group, HLA DR12 was positive in all members. In the normal group, none of these HLA typings was positive except one. These findings indicate a tighter relationship between heart block and the HLA locus than previously thought.