title: Toll-like receptor 4 gene polymorphism and giant cell arteritis susceptibility: a cumulative meta-analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Toll-like receptor (TLR) 4 (+896 A/G) gene polymorphism has been reported to be associated with susceptibility to giant cell arteritis (GCA) with inconsistent results. To provide a more definitive conclusion, a cumulative meta-analysis of the association of TLR4 (+896 A/G) polymorphism with GCA susceptibility combining previous studies was performed.
  
  
  METHODS
  The cumulative meta-analysis included 3 case-control studies which provided a total of 437 patients and 1023 controls. Meta-analysis was conducted by fitting random effects models and checked for heterogeneity and publication bias. Combined odds ratio (OR) and associated 95% confidence intervals (CI) were obtained by using a DerSimonian and Laird random effects model.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three studies, all from a South European ancestry, were identified through a literature search and included in this meta-analysis. The cumulative meta-analysis showed that the pooled random effects OR was non significant (OR: 1.46, 95% CI: 0.95-2.25; p = 0.082). There is some evidence suggestive of moderate-high heterogeneity between the three studies, I2 34.2% (95% CI: 0-55.2).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This cumulative meta-analysis does not demonstrate an association of TLR4 (+896 A/G) gene polymorphism with susceptibility to GCA. Further studies using larger samples and in populations from different geographic origins are needed to determine the exact role of TLR4 gene polymorphisms in GCA.
authors: Division of Rheumatology, Hospital Universitario Marqués de Valdecilla-IFIMAV, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Cantabria, Santander, Spain.
authors: Lorena
authors: L
authors: Alvarez-Rodriguez
authors: Pedro
authors: P
authors: Muñoz Cacho
authors: Marcos
authors: M
authors: Lopez-Hoyos
authors: Ignacio
authors: I
authors: Beares
authors: Cristina
authors: C
authors: Mata
authors: Jaime
authors: J
authors: Calvo-Alen
authors: Ignacio
authors: I
authors: Villa
authors: Victor Manuel
authors: VM
authors: Martinez-Taboada
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics*; D005838:Genotype; D013700:Giant Cell Arteritis / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D051197:Toll-Like Receptor 4 / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: C495345:TLR4 protein, human; D051197:Toll-Like Receptor 4