title: [Presence of HLA-DRB1 alleles in a group of patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated with low doses of sodium aurothiomalate].
abstract: The good results of a therapy with small doses of sodium aurothiomalate (20 mg/month) in 17 patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis are reported. The mean age +/- ESM at the beginning of treatment was 59.9 +/- 3.2 years, the mean duration of disease was 1.3 +/- 0.5 years. The lowest grade of disease activity (1) according to Mallya and Mace's (1981) criteria was observed in 12 patients (70%) after a period of 1.7 +/- 0.6 years (mean +/- ESM). This grade of activity persisted in 11 patients and remained for 3 years in 1 patient. In the other 5 patients a low or middle activity of disease persisted. The relationship between therapeutic results and HLA DRB1 prevalence was investigated. The LLEQRRAA and LLEQKRAA sequences are present in 3 patients, i.e. 17.9%. This frequency is not significantly different from the frequency (28.6%) observed in a control group of healthy subjects. Therefore these sequences, at least in Italian people, cannot be considered a factor of susceptibility to RA. They may be a factor of evolution to a more severe disease. Dermatological side effects were evident only in 2 patients; one of these patients was HLA DR5 positive. The results observed in DR7 positive patients were not different from the results observed in the other patients; therefore, DR7 positive patients could responders to gold treatment, even with low doses.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Clinica Medica Generale e Cardiologia, Università degli Studi di Firenze.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bianucci
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rombolà
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tringali
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Curradi
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Bongi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000483:Alleles; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics*; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006052:Gold Sodium Thiomalate / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000235:genetics*; D059811:HLA-DRB1 Chains; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D059811:HLA-DRB1 Chains; D006052:Gold Sodium Thiomalate
vernacular_title: Presenza degli alleli HLA DRB1 in un gruppo di pazienti con artrite reumatoide trattato con basse dosi di aurotiomalato di sodio.