Progress in the immunogenetics of rheumatoid arthritis.
Although much remains to be learned about environmental factors and putative pathogens, significant strides have been made on the genetic front. Genes appear to have a greater role in determining disease severity than disease risk. In particular, patients who are heterozygous for two HLA-DR4 subtypes are prone to severe erosive disease, making them candidates for early, aggressive therapy.
Wordsworth
P
P
Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, England.
D000483:Alleles; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D004782:Environmental Health; D005260:Female; D005802:Genes, MHC Class II / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D015804:HLA-DR4 Antigen / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D006239:Haplotypes; D006579:Heterozygote; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male
D015804:HLA-DR4 Antigen