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To investigate the possible relation between certain HLA antigens and toxicity during treatment with sodium aurothiomalate of D-penicillamine, we studied 91 patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Seventy-one had toxic reactions to either drug or both drugs; the remaining 20 took one of the drugs for at least six months, without toxicity. Nineteen of 24 patients in whom proteinuria developed were positive for HLA-B8 and HLA-DRW3 antigens; 14 of 15 episodes of aurothiomalate-induced proteinura and nine of 13 episodes of penicillamine-induced proteinura occurred in patients with these antigens. All 13 episodes of proteinuria in which urinary protein exceeded 2 g in 24 hours occurred in patients with DRw3. The relative risk of proteinuria during treatment with aurothiomalate is increased 32 times in patients who are HLA-DRw3 positive. No significant associations were found between any HLA antigen and development of skin rashes or hematologic complications. Toxicity during aurothiomalate or penicillamine treatment for rheumatoid arthritis may be under genetic control.

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SUMMARY Patients with ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, and psoriasis alone were typed for HLA A, B, Cw, and DR antigens, and the antigen frequencies were compared with those in a normal control population and in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Patients with psoriasis had a significantly raised frequency of Cw6. Those with arthritis in addition to their psoriasis also had raised frequencies of B27 and DR7. Patients with ankylosing spondylitis were characterised by the expected high frequency of HLA B27. Again, those with peripheral arthritis had a higher B27 and DR7 frequency than those without. DR3 is associated with the development of erosions in psoriatic arthritis.

Ten patients with rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis and acute renal failure were treated with extracorporeal immunoadsorption, prednisolone, and cyclophosphamide. Three patients had systemic lupus erythematosus, five had microscopic polyarteritis and two had Wegener's granulomatosis. All ten patients were dialysis-dependent prior to immunoadsorption. Nine of ten patients rapidly regained renal function and seven continue to have independent renal function between 9 and 30 months after immunoadsorption. Three patients at presentation were not dialysis dependent. Despite treatment with methylprednisolone, cyclophosphamide, and oral prednisolone, renal function continued to deteriorate and they required dialysis. Immunoadsorption was then started without alteration in baseline immunosuppression. Within a mean of 4.6 days, range 3-7 days, renal function improved and the patients no longer required dialysis. Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies and double-stranded DNA antibodies were rapidly removed by immunoadsorption. Only one patient with systemic lupus erythematosus and two with microscopic polyarteritis had significant resynthesis of antibody at 1 month post-immunoadsorption. Renal biopsy before and after immunoadsorption and immunosuppressive therapy showed resolution of glomerular crescents and no evidence of active disease. Immunoadsorption coupled with prednisolone and cyclophosphamide may be of value in the treatment of rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis.

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