title: Association between BLK polymorphisms and susceptibility to SLE : A meta-analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to explore whether B‑cell lymphocyte kinase (BLK) polymorphisms are associated with susceptibility to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in ethnically diverse populations.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a meta-analysis of the association between the BLK rs13277113 A/G, rs2736340 T/C, rs2248932 T/C, and rs2618476 G/A polymorphisms and SLE.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seventeen studies with 22,701 patients and 36,365 controls were included in the meta-analysis. The meta-analysis revealed a significant association between SLE and the BLK rs13277113 A allele (OR = 1.359, 95 % CI = 1.292-1.429, p < 1.0 × 10-8), and stratification by ethnicity indicated an association between this allele and SLE in Caucasians, Asians, and Africans (OR = 1.315, 95 % CI = 1.252-1.380, p < 1.0 × 10-8; OR = 1.415, 95 % CI = 1.287-1.555, p < 1.0 × 10-8; OR = 1.361, 95 % CI = 1.194-1.550, p = 3.6 × 10-6). A significant association between SLE and the rs2736340 T allele (OR = 1.354, 95 % CI = 1.286-1.426, p < 1.0 × 10-8) was also observed, and stratification by ethnicity indicated an association between the risk allele and SLE in Caucasians and Asians (OR = 1.333, 95 % CI = 1.259-1.412, p < 1.0 × 10-8; OR = 1.525, 95 % CI = 1.339-1.736, p < 1.0 × 10-8). Meta-analysis also revealed a significant association between SLE and the BLK alleles rs2248932 T and rs2618476 G (OR = 1.285 95 % CI = 1.228-1.345, p < 1.0 × 10-8; OR = 1.374, 95 % CI = 1.294-1.468, p < 1.0 × 10-8), and stratification by ethnicity indicated an association between these alleles and SLE in Caucasians and Asians.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This meta-analysis confirms that polymorphisms in the BLK alleles rs13277113 A/G, rs2736340 T/C, and rs2248932 T/C are associated with susceptibility to SLE in Caucasian and Asian populations.
authors.affiliation: Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University Anam Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, 73, Inchon-ro, Seongbuk-gu, 136-705, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: G G
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University Anam Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, 73, Inchon-ro, Seongbuk-gu, 136-705, Seoul, Korea. lyhcgh@korea.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Y H
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D044466:Asian People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005819:Genetic Markers / Q000235:genetics; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / Q000235:genetics; D015995:Prevalence; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012307:Risk Factors; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019061:src-Family Kinases / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D005819:Genetic Markers; C584409:BLK protein, human; D019061:src-Family Kinases
keywords: BLK; Meta-analysis; Polymorphism; SLE