Association of HLA-DR5 with mucocutaneous lesions in patients with rheumatoid arthritis receiving gold sodium thiomalate.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the possible association between HLA antigens and adverse reactions to gold sodium thiomalate therapy (GSTM).


METHODS
Ninety consecutive patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) were studied for possible association between HLA antigens and adverse reactions to GSTM therapy.


RESULTS
HLA-DR5 was significantly increased in patients who developed gold induced mucocutaneous lesions. On the other hand, patients with RA carrying B8 and DR3 antigens are of a high risk of developing proteinuria after gold therapy. A very interesting finding was the low incidence of DR7 antigen in patients who developed adverse reactions to GSTM. We also report the relationship between B27 antigen and chrysiasis due to gold therapy.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results support suggestions that the DR7 antigen provides a protective effect against gold toxicity. We also found a strong association between DR5 and mucocutaneous lesions in patients with RA treated with GSTM.
Rodriguez-Pérez
M
M
Rheumatology Unit, Hospital Clinico, University of Granada, Spain.
González-Dominguez
J
J
Matarán
L
L
Garcia-Pérez
S
S
Salvatierra
D
D
D000328:Adult; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology*; D003875:Drug Eruptions / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006052:Gold Sodium Thiomalate / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015235:HLA-B Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D015805:HLA-DR5 Antigen / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013280:Stomatitis / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology
D015235:HLA-B Antigens; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D015805:HLA-DR5 Antigen; D006052:Gold Sodium Thiomalate