The distribution of HLA-D region antigens was studied in 17 patients w
ith well-documented polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR). HLA-D region antigen
s were defined by the oligonucleotide typing of polymerase chain react
ion (PCR)-amplified genomic DNA. The results demonstrate that the prev
alence of DR4 was significantly higher (p < 0.0002; RR = 8.10) in pati
ents (70.6%) compared to normal controls (22.9%), and the frequency of
DR1 and/or DR4 in patients (82.4%) was also higher (p < 0.0006; RR =
8.40) than that in normal healthy controls (35.7%). Of the subtypes of
DR4, Dw13 was significantly higher (p < 0.002; RR = 9.30) inpatients
(29.4%) than in normal controls (4.3%). However, these data must still
be confirmed by other investigators. The distribution of the remainin
g DR antigens and of the DQ and DP alleles in patients did not differ
significantly from those in controls. The results suggest immunogeneti
c similarity between PMR and late onset rheumatoid arthritis in elderl
y populations.