To investigate the role of HLA-DP alleles in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
HLA-DPB1 alleles were studied in 144 patients with RA and 144 healthy controls using the polymerase chain reaction/sequence specific oligonucleotide probe method.
HLA-DPB1*0510 was the the most common allele in patients with RA and healthy controls in Taiwan. There was no significant difference in frequencies of HLA-DPB1 alleles between patients and controls. The HLA-DPB1 alleles were not associated with seropositivity for rheumatoid factor, extraarticular involvement, or bone erosion in patients. There was also no significant difference in frequencies of HLA-DPB1 alleles among DR4-positive and DR4-negative patients and controls.
There was no significant difference in the prevalences of HLA-DPB1 alleles between Taiwanese patients with RA and healthy controls. HLA-DPB1 alleles were not related to the clinical manifestations of patients with RA in Taiwan.