title: Genetic influences on rheumatoid arthritis in African Americans.
abstract: Rheumatoid arthritis is a common autoimmune disease characterized by inflammation of the synovial membrane of diarthrodial joints, which often leads to joint damage and disability. There are known associations between major histocompatibility complex class II alleles and susceptibility to rheumatoid arthritis and its severity in Caucasians. African Americans, an admixed population in the United States, has been underrepresented in genetic studies of the susceptibility and severity of rheumatoid arthritis. With the advent of biologic agents, which target specific molecules of the immune system (e.g., tumor necrosis factor, interleukin-1), biologic markers of treatment response in Caucasians and in African Americans would be clinically useful.
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 35294-0007, USA.
authors.forename: Laura B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Hughes
authors.forename: Larry W
authors.initials: LW
authors.lastname: Moreland
authors.forename: S Louis
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Bridges
mesh_terms: D000483:Alleles; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D044383:Black People / Q000235:genetics*; D005802:Genes, MHC Class II; D005819:Genetic Markers; D005828:Genetics, Population; D006801:Humans; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / Q000235:genetics; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000235:genetics; D014481:United States; D044465:White People / Q000235:genetics; D001741:Black or African American
chemical_list: D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D005819:Genetic Markers; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D008727:Methotrexate