title: HLA DRβ1 alleles in Pakistani patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine frequencies of HLA DRβ1 alleles in rheumatoid arthritis in Pakistani patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross sectional/analytical study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Department of Immunology, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Rawalpindi in collaboration with Rheumatology departments of Military Hospital, Rawalpindi and Fauji Foundation Hospital, Rawalpindi, from January 2009 to January 2010.
  
  
  METHODS
  HLA DRβ1 genotyping of one hundred Pakistani patients, diagnosed as having RA as per American College of Rheumatology revised criteria 1987, was done. HLA DRβ1 genotyping was carried out at allele group level (DRβ1*01-DRβ1*16) by sequence specific primers in RA patients. Comparison of HLA DRβ1 allele frequencies between patients and control groups was made using Pearson's chi-square test to find possible association of HLA DRβ1 alleles with RA in Pakistani rheumatoid patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  HLA DRβ1*04 was expressed with significantly increased frequency in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (p <0.05). HLA DRβ1*11 was expressed statistically significantly more in control group as compared to rheumatoid patients indicating a possible protective effect. There was no statistically significant difference observed in frequencies of HLA DRβ1 allele *01, DRβ1 allele *03, DRβ1 allele *07, DRβ1 allele *08, DRβ1 allele *09, DRβ1 allele*10, DRβ1 allele *12, DRβ1 allele *13, DRβ1 allele *14, DRβ1 allele *15 and DRβ1 allele *16 between patients and control groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The identification of susceptible HLA DRβ1 alleles in Pakistani RA patients may help physicians to make early decisions regarding initiation of early intensive therapy with disease modifying anti rheumatic medicines and biological agents decreasing disability in RA patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Rawalpindi.
authors.forename: Nighat
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Naqi
authors.forename: Tahir Aziz
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.forename: Javaid Mehmood
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Malik
authors.forename: Mushtaq
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.forename: Muhammad Mukarram
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Bashir
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000483:Alleles; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy; D044466:Asian People / Q000235:genetics*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005838:Genotype; D059811:HLA-DRB1 Chains / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010154:Pakistan; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D059811:HLA-DRB1 Chains; C527195:HLA-DRB1*04 antigen