HLA-A2 and Chronic Lung Disease in Neonates

Seventy-seven neonates weighing less than 1,500 g each were typed for HLA antigens. The phenotypes were correlated with the subsequent clinical course of the newborns. Forty-four (57%) of 77 newborns had an HLA-A2 antigen, whereas 194 (52%) of 376 unrelated adult controls possessed this same antigen. All 11 infants with roentgenographic evidence of chronic lung disease had HLA-A2 antigens, whereas 33 (50%) of 66 infants without HLA-A2 antigens did not have chronic lung disease. We conclude that the HLA-A2 antigen may be associated with susceptibility to chronic lung disease in newborns. (JAMA1982;248:1868-1869)