HLA-DQA1 and rheumatic heart disease: A genome-wide genetic analysis of 1263 Aboriginal Australians demonstrated that variation in the HLA-DQA1_DQB1 region is the primary genetic risk factor for RHD in this population, with specific risk haplotypes (HLA-DQA1*0101_DQB1*0503 and HLA-DQA1*0103_DQB1*0601) being associated with increased susceptibility, while HLA-DQA1*0103_DQB1*0402 is protective [37].