title: Heterogeneity of systemic lupus erythematosus elucidated by cluster analysis. The influence of HLA.
abstract: For 75 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), 39 laboratory and clinical characteristics, including HLA-A, B, C and DR typing, were analysed using a cluster analysis technique. Three groups were identified. Group I (46 patients) was characterized by infrequently severe disease, good response to therapy and infrequent multisystem involvement. Group II (24 patients) was characterized by a severe course of disease (although the tendency to remit after therapy was not unusual), and frequently, renal involvement and pericarditis. Group III (5 patients) was characterized by more severe renal disease. Of the 75 patients studied, 38.7% possessed HLA-DR3, compared to 17.4% of controls. Group I patients did not differ from controls but 80% of Group II patients and 4/5 Group III patients had DR3. Cluster analysis identifies subsets of SLE patients who show marked differences in disease course and severity, correlated with possession of the HLA B8, DR3 phenotype.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Stenszky
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kozma
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Szegedi
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sonkoly
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Bear
authors.forename: N R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Farid
mesh_terms: D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000235:genetics*; D015234:HLA-A Antigens; D015235:HLA-B Antigens; D015236:HLA-C Antigens; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D006680:HLA Antigens; D015234:HLA-A Antigens; D015235:HLA-B Antigens; D015236:HLA-C Antigens; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens