title: DR antigen distribution in Blacks with rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: DR antigen distribution was studied in 85 Blacks with either classical or definite rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Sixty-three were seropositive and 22 were seronegative by latex fixation titer. The frequency of DR4 was 7.41% in our control Black population (n = 162), 22.22% in the seropositive (0.01 greater than p greater than 0.001; RR 3.57) and 22.72% in the seronegative RA (0.01 greater than p greater than 0.001; RR 3.67). Our data confirm the association of DR4 with seropositive RA in Blacks, and suggest a similar association of DR4 with seronegative RA. It also suggests that DR4 may be a risk factor for more aggressive disease in Blacks with seropositive RA.
mesh_terms: D001741:Black or African American; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D005819:Genetic Markers; D015804:HLA-DR4 Antigen; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007841:Latex Fixation Tests; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012306:Risk
chemical_list: D005819:Genetic Markers; D015804:HLA-DR4 Antigen; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II