Cyclooxygenase-2 genotype and rheumatoid arthritis.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the association between cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) genotypes and risk and severity of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in a Korean population.


METHODS
A total of 258 Korean patients with RA and 400 control subjects were recruited from Hanyang University Hospital. Subjects were genotyped for the -765G/C polymorphism of the COX-2 gene by RFLP-PCR analysis. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated to estimate risk. Severity of RA was assessed by anatomical stage according to Steinbrocker, et al.


RESULTS
No association was observed between COX-2 genotype and risk or severity of RA. However, among those without the shared epitope (SE), carriers of the low activity C allele had a lower risk of RA and less severe form of RA than subjects with the G/G genotype. The OR (95% CI) was 0.36 (0.14-0.95) for risk of RA and 0.04 (0.01-0.41) for severity.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that COX-2 genotyping might be useful in predicting the risk and severity of RA in individuals without the SE.
Lee
Kyu Hoon
KH
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Division of Rheumatology, and the Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases, Hanyang University, Seoul, Korea.
Kim
Hee-Sang
HS
El-Sohemy
Ahmed
A
Cornelis
Marilyn C
MC
Uhm
Wan-Sik
WS
Bae
Sang-Cheol
SC
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000235:genetics*; D000939:Epitopes / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / Q000235:genetics; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
D000939:Epitopes; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2