Association of HLA-DR2/DR4 heterozygosity with systemic lupus erythematosus in Japanese patients
Hirose, S.; Ogawa, S.; Nishimura, H.; Hashimoto, H.; Shirai, T.
Journal of Rheumatology 15(10): 1489-1492
1988
ISSN/ISBN: 0315-162X PMID: 3264576 Document Number: 324048
The frequency of HLA-DR2/DR4 heterozygotes was significantly higher in 85 Japanese patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), compared with healthy controls. There was no difference in frequency of the heterozygotes of HLA-DR2/non-DR4. The association with HLA-DR2/DR4 heterozygosity was highly significant in patients with SLE in whom the onset occurred under age 30 and there was no significant association in patients with SLE in whom the onset occurred at age over 30 years. The possible role of HLA-DR2/DR4 heterozygosity in the development of SLE is discussed.