title: Properdin factor B and complement factor C4 allotypes in rheumatoid arthritis: results of a follow-up study.
abstract: The association between allotypes of properdin factor B (Bf), the fourth component of complement (C4A and C4B), and rheumatoid arthritis (RA), was investigated in a well-characterized cohort of RA patients who were followed from an early phase of the disease for a mean duration of 6 years. The frequencies of probable heterozygous C4AQ0 and of C4A3 were lower in RA patients compared to controls, irrespective of the presence of DR4 [relative risk (RR): 0.52 and 0.49, respectively, 95% confidence intervals (95% CI): 0.34-0.80 and 0.29-0.82]. The frequency of C4A4 was higher in RA patients compared to controls (RR: 1.86, 95% CI: 1.03-3.35), especially in DR4 positive RA patients compared to DR4 positive controls (RR: 2.58, 95% CI: 1.07-6.25), indicating a positive association of this allotype with RA additional to DR4. Bf and C4B allotypes were comparable in RA patients and controls. We did not find significant differences in Bf and C4 allotype frequencies in RA patients subdivided according to severity of the disease into a mild group and a progressive group. Because of inconsistent results in all studies on Bf and C4 allotypes, we conclude that C4 and Bf allotypes do not seem to have an important independent effect on determining disease susceptibility.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, University Hospital, Leiden, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: van Zeben
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Giphart
authors.forename: F T
authors.initials: FT
authors.lastname: Christiansen
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hoetjer
authors.forename: E C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.forename: F C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Breedveld
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D003181:Complement C4 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D011415:Complement Factor B / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D005260:Female; D006579:Heterozygote; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012306:Risk
chemical_list: D003181:Complement C4; D011415:Complement Factor B