Patent ID: 6953665
Filing Date: 2005-10-11
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
1. A method for determining the predisposition of a rheumatoid arthritis patient to develop severe disease, said method comprising: a) comparing the frequency of CD4 b) determining if said patient is predisposed to develop severe disease based on said information and the presence or absence of an HLA-DRB1 allele in said patient, wherein said HLA-DRB1 allele is an HLA-DRB1 *0401 allele, an HLA-DRB1 *0404 allele, an HLA-DRB1 *0405 allele, or an HLA-DRB1 *0408 allele; wherein said severe disease comprises subcutaneous nodule formation or extra-articular involvement.