HLA-DPB1 POLYMORPHISM IN PATIENTS WITH RHEUMATOID-ARTHRITIS IN TAIWAN

Objective. To investigate the role of HLA-DP alleles in the pathogenes is of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), Methods, HLA-DPB1 alleles were studie d in 144 patients with RA and 144 healthy controls using the polymeras e chain reaction/sequence specific oligonucleotide probe method, Resul ts, HLA-DPB10501 was the most common allele in patients with RA and h ealthy controls in Taiwan. There was no significant difference in freq uencies of HLA-DPB1 alleles between patients and controls. The HLA-DPB 1 alleles were not associated with seropositivity for rheumatoid facto r, extraarticular involvement, or bone erosion in patients, There was also no significant difference in frequencies of HLA-DPB1 alleles amon g DR4-positive and DR4-negative patients and controls. Conclusion, The re was no significant difference in the prevalences of HLA-DPB1 allele s between Taiwanese patients with RA and healthy controls. HLA-DPB1 al leles were not related to the clinical manifestations of patients with RA in Taiwan.