HLA-DQB1* polymorphism and associations with dilated cardiomyopathy, inflammatory dilated cardiomyopathy and myocarditis.

To date, only weak associations have been reported between idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and certain HLA class II alleles. Associations between HLA class II alleles and specific causes of DCM, especially myocarditis, have as yet not been systematically investigated. Typing of HLA DQB1* allele was performed using a sequence-specific primer-polymerase chain reaction technique in 22 unrelated patients with idiopathic DCM, 19 patients with myocarditis and normal left ventricular function, and 16 patients with myocarditis and impaired left ventricular function (i.