J Korean Rheum Assoc.  2001 Mar;8(1):8-13.

HLA-DR4 is Not a Severity Marker in Korean Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis

• Lim MK
• Choi SW
• Lee CK
• Ju YS
• Cho YS
• Kim SM
• Shin MJ
• Oh HB
• Yoo B
• Moon HB

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
To investigate HLA-DR4,its subtype and shared epitope as a severity marker in Korean patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
METHODS
One hundred thirty-six RA patients were typed for HLA DR4 and HLA-DRB1 alleles by the polymerase chain reaction-sequence specific probe method. The patients were retrospectively evaluated for extra-articular features,presence of remission,and joint failure.Bony erosion score was assessed by Sharp's method with modification.
RESULTS
Patients with HLA-DR4 had significantly higher prevalence of extra-articular features compared to those without the allele.However,there was no association of HLA-DR4,HLA-DRB1*0405 and shared epitope with rate of remission,joint failure,and bony erosion score.Eighty-two percent of patients were rheumatoid factor positive.With seropositive patients only,the results were the same as those above.
CONCLUSION
HLA-DR4,HLA-DRB1*0405 and shared epitope are not a severity marker in Korean patients with RA in terms of radiological score,rate of joint failure,and rate of clinical remission.Data from this study do not support the clinical use of HLA-DR4 typing as a prognostic marker in Korean patients with RA.

Keyword

HLA-DR4; Shared epitope; Korean; Rheumatoid arthritis; Disease severity

MeSH Terms

Alleles
Arthritis, Rheumatoid*
HLA-DR4 Antigen*
HLA-DRB1 Chains
Humans
Joints
Prevalence
Retrospective Studies
Rheumatoid Factor
HLA-DR4 Antigen
HLA-DRB1 Chains
Rheumatoid Factor