title: HLA-DR4 antigen and IgM rheumatoid factors.
abstract: To investigate the possible relation between the DR4 antigen and IgM rheumatoid factors (RF). 80 patients with rheumatoid arthritis were tested for 7 HLA-DR antigens and 38 HLA-A, B, C antigens, and compared with 66 normal controls. The DR4 antigen prevalence was 48.7% in the patients and 12.1% in the controls (p less than 0.001). Studying the relationship between the HLA-DR4 antigen and IgM, the genetic marker was present in 89.7% of 51 seropositive patients and in 39% of 29 seronegatives (p less than 0.00001). On the other hand we discovered a positive association between HLA-DR3 and antinuclear antibodies (p less than 0.01). These results suggest the existence of immune response genes in the major histocompatibility complex of humans.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000032:analysis; D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex / Q000032:analysis; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D015804:HLA-DR4 Antigen; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex; D006680:HLA Antigens; D015804:HLA-DR4 Antigen; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor