ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease in which tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) plays an important role. There are, however, controversial reports that TNF-alpha promoter polymorphism may be an independent marker of susceptibility and severity of RA. The aim of the present study was to examine the TNF-alpha -308 promoter polymorphism in patients with RA. METHODS: We examined 91 patients with RA diagnosed according to the criteria of the American College of Rheumatology. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification was used for analysis of the polymorphism at position -308 in promoter of TNF-alpha gene. RESULTS: Distribution of TNF-alpha genotypes in RA patients did not differ from that in control subjects. Moreover, there was no association between TNF-alpha genotypes and age at disease diagnosis, disease activity in global physician's assessment, and joint and extra-articular involvement. There was also no correlation between TNF-alpha polymorphism and disease activity measures, including erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), CRP, number of swollen and tender joints, and morning stiffness duration. CONCLUSIONS: We suggest that TNF-alpha -308 promoter polymorphism is not a genetic risk factor for RA susceptibility and severity.
Subject(s)
Arthritis, Rheumatoid/genetics , Polymorphism, Genetic , Promoter Regions, Genetic , Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/genetics , Adult , Aged , Case-Control Studies , Disease Susceptibility , Female , Genetic Markers , Genotype , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Polymerase Chain Reaction , Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length , Severity of Illness IndexABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: The N-acetyltransferase polymorphism is involved in the metabolism of many xenobiotics, as well as in susceptibility to some diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of NAT 2 polymorphism on disease activity in RA patients. METHODS: 70 with RA were enrolled in the study. As a measure of disease activity, the number of swollen and tender joints, the duration of morning stiffness, ESR and CRP as well as disease activity based on a global physician's assessment were evaluated. The NAT2 polymorphism was determined by a polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism assay (PCR-RFLP). RESULTS: The mean number of swollen and tender joints, as well as the ESR and CRP values, did not differ significantly with the acetylation genotype. Erosive RA was diagnosed in 74.5% of the slow and 40% of the fast acetylators. The risk for the development of erosive RA was 4.39 time greater in slow acetylators than in fast acetylators. CONCLUSION: NAT2 polymorphism may be a genetic risk factor for joint destruction.
Subject(s)
Arthritis, Rheumatoid , Arylamine N-Acetyltransferase/genetics , Genetic Predisposition to Disease , Polymorphism, Genetic , Acetylation , Adult , Aged , Arthritis, Rheumatoid/enzymology , Arthritis, Rheumatoid/genetics , Arthritis, Rheumatoid/physiopathology , Blood Sedimentation , C-Reactive Protein/analysis , Female , Humans , Joints/physiopathology , Male , Middle Aged , Polymerase Chain Reaction , Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length , Severity of Illness IndexABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Polymorphism of phagocyte IgG receptor Fc gamma RIIa may modulate immune complex mediated inflammation, particularly when immune complex contain IgG2. METHODS: Fc gamma RIIa genotyping in 82 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and 148 healthy subjects was performed using the polymerase chain reaction technique with allele specific primers. RESULTS: No significant relation between Fc gamma RIIa genotypes and susceptibility to RA was observed, but extraarticular complications with high frequency were revealed in patients with R/R131 genotype. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that the Fc gamma RIIa polymorphism is not a risk factor for RA.
Subject(s)
Antigens, CD/genetics , Arthritis, Rheumatoid/genetics , Genetic Predisposition to Disease , Polymorphism, Genetic , Receptors, IgG/genetics , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Arthritis, Rheumatoid/epidemiology , Arthritis, Rheumatoid/physiopathology , DNA/analysis , Female , Genotype , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Poland/epidemiology , Polymerase Chain ReactionABSTRACT
The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of ionic and non-ionic contrast media on platelet function. In 44 patients who underwent angiography, the plasma concentration of beta-thromboglobulin (beta TG) was measured before and after ionic contrast medium (diatrizoate) administration in 22 patients and non-ionic contrast medium (iopromide) in the other 22 patients. A significant decrease in the plasma beta TG levels after intraarterial contrast medium injection occurred in both groups of patients. No significant beta TG level changes occurred in patients with normal pre-examination beta TG levels in both groups. In patients with elevated beta TG levels before arteriography, beta TG returned to normal values after contrast medium injection in both groups. There was no significant correlation between the amount of administered contrast medium and beta TG concentration after angiography. These results suggest that platelet function is not affected by either ionic or non-ionic contrast medium in patients with normal platelet activation. In patients with enhanced platelet activation, the activation became normal after contrast medium administration.
