HLA-DR1-POSITIVE PATIENTS SUFFERING FROM RHEUMATOID-ARTHRITIS ARE AT HIGH-RISK FOR DEVELOPING MUCOCUTANEOUS SIDE-EFFECTS UPON GOLD THERAPY

Population studies suggest an association between RA and, depending on the ethnic background, HLA-DR1 and/or -DR4. One standard regimen for the treatment of RA is the use of gold compounds like SATM to arrest p rogression of the disease. In the present study, the immunogenetic bac kground of RA patients developing side effects upon SATM treatment was determined. A total of 53 patients under SATM therapy were tested for their HLA-DRB and -DQ alleles by DNA typing; a significantly higher f requency of HLA-DR1 (P < 0.004, uncorrected) was observed in patients presenting with mucocutaneous side effects (MCT) when compared with pa tients without MCT. The RR was 6.85. Thus, HLA-DR1 seems to be a marke r for the susceptibility of gold adverse reactions.