title: TNF-alpha -308 promoter polymorphism in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease in which tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) plays an important role. There are, however, controversial reports that TNF-alpha promoter polymorphism may be an independent marker of susceptibility and severity of RA. The aim of the present study was to examine the TNF-alpha -308 promoter polymorphism in patients with RA.
  
  
  METHODS
  We examined 91 patients with RA diagnosed according to the criteria of the American College of Rheumatology. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification was used for analysis of the polymorphism at position -308 in promoter of TNF-alpha gene.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Distribution of TNF-alpha genotypes in RA patients did not differ from that in control subjects. Moreover, there was no association between TNF-alpha genotypes and age at disease diagnosis, disease activity in global physician's assessment, and joint and extra-articular involvement. There was also no correlation between TNF-alpha polymorphism and disease activity measures, including erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), CRP, number of swollen and tender joints, and morning stiffness duration.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We suggest that TNF-alpha -308 promoter polymorphism is not a genetic risk factor for RA susceptibility and severity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacokinetics and Therapeutic Drug Monitoring, Pomeranian Medical University, Szczecin, Poland. pawand@poczta.onet.pl
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pawlik
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Florczak
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ostanek
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brzosko
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Brzosko
authors.forename: B Gawronska
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Szklarz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000235:genetics*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D005260:Female; D005819:Genetic Markers; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D005819:Genetic Markers; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha