HLA antigens in Tlingit Indians with rheumatoid arthritis

HLA-DR4 has been described in association with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in multiple populations. We have studied HLA antigens in Alaskan Tlingit Indians. HLA-DR4 was decreased in the RA group (n = 32) compared with controls (n = 62) (6% vs 21% p = 0.07). The predominant DR4 allele observed was DRB1*0403 (Dw13.1). The most striking observation in these studies was a marked predominance of the DRB1*1402 allele encoding Dw16 (DRw14). This allele was present in 91% of RA cases, but was also highly prevalent in controls (80%, OR = 2.4 p = 0.20). DRB1*1402 only was observed in 47% of cases and 31% of controls. The DRB3*0101 (DRw52), and the DQA*0501 and DQB*0301 alleles encoding a subset of DQw3 were associated with DRB1*1402 in cases and in controls. HLA-Bw62 was increased in RA cases (28%) compared with controls (8%) (OR = 4.5, p = 0.01, corrected p = ns).