HLA ANTIGENS AND TOXIC REACTIONS TO SODIUM AUROTHIOMALATE IN PATIENTS WITH RHEUMATOID-ARTHRITIS

  • 1 January 1984
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 11  (3) , 358-361
Abstract
HLA typing studies were performed on 60 consecutive patients with seropositive definite or classical rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Patients were treated with gold and were followed for a minimum of 18 mo. for identification of adverse reactions to gold therapy. HLA-DR3 was increased significantly in patients who developed gold induced rash, proteinuria or thrombocytopenia. The incidence of HLA-DR4 was lower in patients with these adverse reactions. Patients with RA carrying DR3 are apparently at a higher risk of developing adverse reactions to gold. A low incidence of DR4 was found in patients who developed adverse reactions to gold, suggesting that DR4 positive patients may have some degree or protection against gold toxicity.