ASSOCIATION OF HLA-DR5 WITH MUCOCUTANEOUS LESIONS IN PATIENTS WITH RHEUMATOID-ARTHRITIS RECEIVING GOLD SODIUM THIOMALATE

Objective. To investigate the possible association between HLA antigen s and adverse reactions to gold sodium thiomalate therapy (GSTM). Meth ods. Ninety consecutive patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) were s tudied for possible association between HLA antigens and adverse react ions to GSTM therapy. Results. HLA-DRS was significantly increased in patients who developed gold induced mucocutaneous lesions. On the othe r hand, patients with RA carrying B8 and DR3 antigens are of a high ri sk of developing proteinuria after gold therapy. A very interesting fi nding was the low incidence of DR7 antigen in patients who developed a dverse reactions to GSTM. We also report the relationship between B27 antigen and chrysiasis due to gold therapy. Conclusion. Our results su pport suggestions that the DR7 antigen provides a protective effect ag ainst gold toxicity. We also found a strong association between DR5 an d mucocutaneous lesions in patients with RA treated with GSTM.