The large granular lymphocyte syndrome with rheumatoid arthritis. Immunogenetic evidence for a broader definition of Felty's syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
To assess whether the HLA-DR4 association found in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is also seen in the large granular lymphocyte (LGL) syndrome.


METHODS
HLA-DR genotyping was performed using restriction fragment length polymorphism and polymerase chain reaction analysis.


RESULTS
LGL syndrome patients with RA showed the same HLA-DR4 association seen in RA/Felty's syndrome (FS), while LGL syndrome patients without arthritis did not.


CONCLUSIONS
It is proposed that FS and the LGL syndrome represent different variants of a broader syndrome comprising RA, neutropenia, LGL expansions, HLA-DR4 positivity, and splenomegaly.
Bowman
S J
SJ
UMDS, London, UK.
Sivakumaran
M
M
Snowden
N
N
Bhavnani
M
M
Hall
M A
MA
Panayi
G S
GS
Lanchbury
J S
JS
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology; D005258:Felty Syndrome / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D015804:HLA-DR4 Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D006720:Homozygote; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D008232:Lymphoproliferative Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000150:complications; D013577:Syndrome
D015804:HLA-DR4 Antigen