HLA-DR1 and DRw6 association in DR4-negative rheumatoid arthritis patients

Abstract
This study of 110 seropositive rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients confirms the significant association of susceptibility to RA with HLA-DR4 specificity (PPPP<0.01). These results demonstrate that RA is not associated with a single HLA-specificity, but to various degrees with DR4, DR1, and DRw6. These findings, and particularly the newly recognized association with DRw6, support the hypothesis that functionally equivalent shared epitopes or conformations on otherwise distinct MHC molecules may confer risk for developing RA.