[The role of HLA antigens in predicting the active course of multiple myeloma]

Abstract

Aim: Detection of associations between carrying some HLA-antigens class I in patients with multiple myeloma (MM) and activity of the malignant process.

Materials and methods: 76 MM patients received polychemotherapy. Its efficacy was assessed after one, three, six and twelve courses by reduced blood and/or urine levels of monoclonal protein, signs of bone healing, reestablishment of normal number of plasma cells in the bone marrow. Identification of HLA-antigens was made in two-stage lymphocytotoxic complement-mediated test using the standard panel of the anti-HLA sera. Data on HLA-typing of 865 blood donors served control. The findings were statistically processed.

Results: All the patients were divided into 3 groups: with indolent (n = 18), active (n = 25) and aggressive (n = 37) MM course. In patients with aggressive MM course high chi-square values were estimated for three HLA specificities: HLA-B13, HLA-B40, HLA-B5. Only HLA-B13 proved significant. No significant differences in carrying HLA-antigens were revealed for patients with active MM course.

Conclusion: The survival of MM patients depends on the degree of the malignant process activity. Patients with aggressive MM course significantly more frequently carry HLA-B13, therefore it can be considered a genetic marker of MM. Its detection can serve a criterion for determination of adequate polychemotherapy.