A S Al-Arfaj1. 1. Rheumatology Division, Department of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. asarfaj@ksu.edu.sa
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To determine the clinical characteristics of rheumatoid arthritis in Saudi Arabia in relation to human leukocyte antigen type. METHODS: A group of 91 rheumatoid arthritis patients, 72 females and 19 males were studied for the various clinical, laboratory and radiological parameters along with human leukocyte antigen-DR phenotypes. Since human leukocyte antigen-DR10 was most commonly associated with rheumatoid arthritis in our population, we compared those patients with human leukocyte antigen-DR10 to those without. RESULTS: The comparison yielded differences in the presence of rheumatoid nodules, erosions, corticosteroid treatment, joint involvement at presentation, hemoglobin levels, and white cell count. Only the last 3 parameters showed a statistical significance. CONCLUSION: Human leukocyte antigen type of Saudi patients with rheumatoid arthritis influenced the course of the disease but only to a limited extent.
OBJECTIVE: To determine the clinical characteristics of rheumatoid arthritis in Saudi Arabia in relation to human leukocyte antigen type. METHODS: A group of 91 rheumatoid arthritispatients, 72 females and 19 males were studied for the various clinical, laboratory and radiological parameters along with human leukocyte antigen-DR phenotypes. Since human leukocyte antigen-DR10 was most commonly associated with rheumatoid arthritis in our population, we compared those patients with human leukocyte antigen-DR10 to those without. RESULTS: The comparison yielded differences in the presence of rheumatoid nodules, erosions, corticosteroid treatment, joint involvement at presentation, hemoglobin levels, and white cell count. Only the last 3 parameters showed a statistical significance. CONCLUSION:Human leukocyte antigen type of Saudi patients with rheumatoid arthritis influenced the course of the disease but only to a limited extent.
Authors: Wassim Y Almawi; Marc Busson; Hala Tamim; Einas M Al-Harbi; Ramzi R Finan; Saria F Wakim-Ghorayeb; Ayesha A Motala Journal: Clin Diagn Lab Immunol Date: 2004-07