title: Graves' disease in Brazilian children and adults: lack of genetic association with CTLA-4 +49A>G polymorphism.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In several populations, major histocompatibility complex and CTLA-4 (cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen-4) gene polymorphisms are related to adult subjects with Graves' disease (GD). Our aim was to study the association of +49A>G polymorphism of the CTLA-4 gene in Brazilian children and adults with GD and its correlation with clinical and laboratory markers of disease severity.
  
  
  METHODS
  CTLA-4 +49A>G polymorphism was established by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis in 44 children and 72 adults with GD and compared to a stringent control group consisting of octogenarians with no history of thyroid disease; free T4 and T3 levels and T3/T4 ratio, antithyroid antibodies, and Graves' ophthalmopathy were also evaluated according to genotype.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No significant difference was found in the frequency of CTLA-4 +49A>G polymorphism among children and adults with GD compared to controls and within groups. There was no significant correlation between the presence of G allele and Graves' ophthalmopathy, gender, age at diagnosis, and biochemical markers of disease severity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The frequency of CTLA-4 +49A>G polymorphism is not different in children and adults with GD compared to the normal control population and does not seem to contribute independently to the severity of the clinical presentation of GD.
authors.affiliation: Endocrine and Metabolic Unit, Santa Casa de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. anamo_cury@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Adriano
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Namo Cury
authors.forename: Carlos Alberto
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Longui
authors.forename: Cristiane
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kochi
authors.forename: Luiz Eduardo
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Calliari
authors.forename: Nilza
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Scalissi
authors.forename: João Eduardo
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Salles
authors.forename: Mylene
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Neves Rocha
authors.forename: Mônica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Barbosa de Melo
authors.forename: Murilo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rezende Melo
authors.forename: Osmar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Monte
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D001938:Brazil; D060908:CTLA-4 Antigen; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006111:Graves Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D014284:Triiodothyronine / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D001323:Autoantibodies; D060908:CTLA-4 Antigen; C556706:CTLA4 protein, human; D014284:Triiodothyronine; D013974:Thyroxine