Epidemiologic and immunogenetic aspects of polymyalgia rheumatica and giant cell arteritis in northern Italy.
We studied the epidemiology of giant cell arteritis (GCA) and polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) in a Mediterranean population. Ninety-nine patients with PMR and/or GCA were identified over a 9-year period (1980-1988) in Reggio Emilia, Italy. The average annual incidence of PMR and GCA was 12.7/100,000 and 6.9/100,000, respectively, in a population aged 50 years or older. Frequencies of HLA antigens were determined in 49 patients with PMR and/or GCA who were followed by staff at our rheumatology unit during the 1980-1988 period. When compared with HLA findings in 242 healthy controls, DR4 was not found to be significantly associated with PMR (24% in PMR patients versus 14% in controls). Patients with GCA also showed an increased frequency of DR4 compared with controls (36% versus 14%), but this difference was also not statistically significant. The immunogenetic features of PMR and GCA and the relationship between the immunogenetic and epidemiologic patterns in different populations are discussed.
Salvarani
C
C
Divisione di Medicina, Unità Artrite Reumatoide, Bologna, Italy.
Macchioni
P
P
Zizzi
F
F
Mantovani
W
W
Rossi
F
F
Castri
C
C
Capozzoli
N
N
Baricchi
R
R
Boiardi
L
L
Chiaravalloti
F
F
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D013700:Giant Cell Arteritis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011111:Polymyalgia Rheumatica / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology
D006680:HLA Antigens