Age at onset, sex distribution and HLA antigen frequency in patients with primary glomerulonephritis progressing to terminal uraemia. An epidemiological survey.

Abstract

In a retrospective study of 138 HLA-typed patients with primary glomerulonephritis progressing to terminal uraemia, a bimodal curve of age at onset of disease was observed among males. An initial peak occurred between 16 and 25 years of age, and a second peak between the ages of 46 and 55. The prevalence of HLA B40 was found to be high among males in the first group, and a relationship was found to exist between the presence of HLA B40 and increased titres of ASO (antistreptolysin O). No such findings were made either in the second group of males or in the female group. Among females, a single peak for age of onset occurred between 6 and 15 years. The frequency of HLA B40 did not differ significantly from that of the controls. The results of this study suggest a relationship to exist, predominantly in younger males, between primary glomerulonephritis with fatal outcome and HLA B40-related alterations in the immunological response to beta-streptococcal infection.