[The significance of HLA DR6 and DR8 among patients with rheumatoid arthritis].

Among 380 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), there were 63 cases who had HLA DR4 without any other counterpart DR type (Group DR4.), 30 with DR6 but without DR4 (Group DR6.DR4-), 37 with both DR6 and DR4 (Group DR6.DR4+), 34 with DR8 but without DR4 (Group DR8.DR4-), and 15 with both DR8 and DR4 (Group DR8.DR4+). 53, 29, 32, 32, or 13 female RA patients respectively from Groups DR4., DR6.DR4-, DR6.DR4+, DR8.DR4-, or DR8.DR4+ were investigated for the severity of their disease. 40 joints in 18 patients, 2 in 1, 19 in 8, 13 in 6, or 10 in 4 respectively from Groups DR4., DR6.DR4-, DR6.DR4+, DR8.DR4-, or DR8.DR4+ had had the previous history of total joint replacement operations for the diseased hips (THR) or knees (TKR). The number of cases (p < 0.01) or that of joints (p < 0.001) was significantly less among Group DR6.DR4- patients than the corresponding figure among Group DR4. patients. Significantly smaller (p < 0.02) number of cases with DR6 (Groups DR6.DR4- and DR6.DR4+ combined) had experienced THR's and/or TKR's than those in Group DR4.. Group DR8.DR4- patients had undergone THR/TKR operations in smaller number of the joints (p < 0.05) in comparison to Group DR4. patients, though the difference was not significant when the numbers of operated cases were compared between the Groups. The age at RA onset among Groups DR4.*, DR6.DR4-, DR6.DR4+, DR8.DR4-, or DR8.DR4+ was 38.5 +/- 14.2 (mean +/- SD) years, 46.6 +/- 12.2, 41.7 +/- 11.7, 44.9 +/- 13.1, or 40.8 +/- 10.2 respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)