Rheumatoid arthritis in a Chippewa band. II. Field study with clinical serologic and HLA-D correlations.
We present an in-depth study of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in a Chippewa band. Of the 227 band members, 168 (74%) were evaluated. The unusually high prevalence of RA was confirmed in 7.1% of those studied or, minimally, 5.3% with a 100% completion rate without additional cases found. Seropositivity in those with clinically definite RA was 92% relative to rheumatoid factor and 75% for ANA. Despite the high prevalence (68%) of HLA-DR4 in this closed population, there was a significant correlation of DR4 with RA (100%). The implications of these observations in this population isolate are discussed.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000032:analysis*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D015804:HLA-DR4 Antigen; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007198:Indians, North American; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008910:Minnesota; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor / Q000032:analysis*
D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D015804:HLA-DR4 Antigen; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor