title: The lp13.3 genomic region -rs599839- is associated with endothelial dysfunction in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an inflammatory disease associated with accelerated atherosclerosis and high risk of cardiovascular (CV) disease. Since genome-wide association studies demonstrated association between rs599839 polymorphism and coronary artery disease, in the present study we assessed the potential association of this polymorphism with endothelial dysfunction, an early step in atherogenesis.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 128 RA patients without history of CV events were genotyped for rs599839 A/G polymorphism. The presence of endothelial dysfunction was assessed by brachial ultrasonography (brachial flow-mediated endothelium-dependent (FMD)).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients carrying the allele G exhibited more severe endothelial dysfunction (FMD%: 4.61 ± 3.94%) than those carrying the wild allele A (FMD%: 6.01 ± 5.15%) (P = 0.08). Adjustment for gender, age at the time of study, follow-up time and classic CV risk factors disclosed a significant association between the rs599839 polymorphism and FMD (G vs. A: P = 0.0062).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results confirm an association of the rs599839 polymorphism with endothelial dysfunction in RA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Hospital Universitario Marqués de Valdecilla, IFIMAV, Santander, Spain.
authors.forename: Raquel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: López-Mejías
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: González-Juanatey
authors.forename: Mercedes
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: García-Bermúdez
authors.forename: Santos
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Castañeda
authors.forename: José A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Miranda-Filloy
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Blanco
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Llorca
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Martín
authors.forename: Miguel A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: González-Gay
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001916:Brachial Artery / Q000503:physiopathology; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*