HLA-DPB1-ASTERISK-0201 IS ASSOCIATED WITH PARTICULAR CLINICAL-FEATURES OF RHEUMATOID-ARTHRITIS

Aims: to determine the effect of HLA-DPB1 status on rheumatoid arthrit is (RA) susceptibility and disease expression. Methods: HLA-DPB1 allel es were identified in 158 RA patients and 106 controls using PCR-seque nce specific oligonucleotide probing. HLA-DPB1 allele frequencies were compared between patient and control groups and the strength of assoc iations assessed using odds ratios and with 95% confidence intervals ( CI). Associations observed in the total Ri group were confirmed using a relative predispositional effect (RPE) analysis. Results: an associa tion between DPB10201 and RA was observed (OR 1.8, 95% Cl 1.0 - 3.4). By contrast, negative associations were found with DPB10301 (OR 0.5, 95% Cl 0.3- 1.0) and DPB11101 (OR 0.06, 95% Cl 0.001 - 0.5). These a ssociations were confirmed using RPE analysis. On further analysis the increase in DPB10201 and decrease in DPB1*0301 frequencies in RA was found to be independent of DR4 status. The association of DPB10201 w ith RA appears to be most pronounced in male patients (OR 3.3, 95% Cl 1.3-8.3), seronegative patients (OR 2.6, 95% Cl 0.9-7.3) those with no n-erosive disease (OR 2.6, 95% Cl 0.9-7.3) or in patients with high ti tre antinuclear antibodies (OR 2.4, 95% Cl 0.8-7.1). Conclusions: HLA- DPB1 alleles may be associated with the pattern of disease expression in certain RA patients and in some cases confer protection against dis ease.