HLA associations with rheumatoid arthritis in African blacks.
The HLA-A, B, C and DR antigens were determined in a group of 100 blacks with classical or definite rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in Durban, South Africa. Fifty-six of these patients were also tested for the DQ antigens. There was a significant association of HLA-DR4 with RA (chi 2 = 77.2; p less than 0.0001). The frequency of DR4 in RA was 44% in comparison with 10% in controls (relative risk 7.4). An unusual finding was a significant increase in the frequency of HLA-B8 in 35% of patients with RA compared to 12.5% of controls (p less than 0.001; relative risk 3.8). There was no linkage disequilibrium between DR4 and B8 to explain the latter association.
Mody
G M
GM
Department to Medicine, University of Natal, Durban, South Africa.
Hammond
M G
MG
Naidoo
P D
PD
D000328:Adult; D000349:Africa; D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D044383:Black People; D005260:Female; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D015795:HLA-B8 Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D015804:HLA-DR4 Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D006680:HLA Antigens; D015795:HLA-B8 Antigen; D015804:HLA-DR4 Antigen