A tumour necrosis factor alpha polymorphism is not associated with rheumatoid arthritis.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether a polymorphism within the tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) gene is associated with susceptibility to, or severity of, rheumatoid arthritis (RA).


METHODS
Consecutive patients with recent onset RA were enrolled in a prospective trial. DNA was collected, disease activity was measured at presentation, and radiographic progression at three years was assessed. Typing of TNF alpha was by polymerase chain reaction and single stranded conformation polymorphism analysis.


RESULTS
No association of TNF alpha alleles and susceptibility to, or severity of, RA was demonstrated.


CONCLUSIONS
These results indicate that this TNF alpha polymorphism does not play a part in the genetic background of RA.
Wilson
A G
AG
University Department of Medicine, University of Sheffield, Royal Hallamshire Hospital, United Kingdom.
de Vries
N
N
van de Putte
L B
LB
Duff
G W
GW
D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D001483:Base Sequence; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D059811:HLA-DRB1 Chains; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D018807:Polymorphism, Single-Stranded Conformational; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000235:genetics*
D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D059811:HLA-DRB1 Chains; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha