An immunogenetic study of older age onset rheumatoid arthritis.
Thirty-two patients with older age onset rheumatoid arthritis (ORA), defined as disease onset after age 60, were selected for HLA typing. The majority (69%) were rheumatoid factor (RF) seronegative. An increase in HLA-DR4, though not statistically significant, was seen in ORA (38% vs 17% normals). This antigen was strongly associated with RF seropositivity (70%, p less than 0.01) and rheumatoid nodules (75%, p less than 0.01) in ORA. We conclude that the immunogenetics of ORA are similar to that described for adult RA in general.
D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000145:classification; D015804:HLA-DR4 Antigen; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007125:Immunogenetics; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor / Q000032:analysis; D012218:Rheumatoid Nodule / Q000150:complications
D006680:HLA Antigens; D015804:HLA-DR4 Antigen; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor