TNF-? gene polymorphism does not affect the clinical and radiological outcome of rheumatoid arthritis

Abstract

The present study was undertaken in order to investigate the relationship between tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) gene polymorphism and the radiological progression of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) within the first 3-years of the disease. Sixty-eight RA patients (59 women and nine men) were observed for 3-years. TNF-alpha polymorphism analysis was performed in all patients. Radiographs of the hands were taken at the onset of study and after 3-years of follow-up. Radiographs were assessed according to the Larsen index (damage score and progression of damage score). We did not observe any correlation between TNF gene polymorphism and damage score or progression of damage score. The obtained data suggests that TNF-308 polymorphism cannot serve as an indicator of the disease course in RA patients.

Association of tumor necrosis factor α polymorphism, but not the shared epitope, with increased radiographic progression in a seropositive rheumatoid arthritis inception cohort

“…However, our patients were treated with traditional DMARDs and not with TNF inhibitors. Our results differ from those of 2 previously published articles (62,63) concerning the association between TNFA polymorphisms and radiographic progression. This difference may be due to the shorter mean duration of RA in our patient population; the duration of RA in the population studied by Brinkman et al (62) ranged from 13.1 years to 17.7 years, but duration data were not provided in the article by Lacki et al (63).…”

“…Our results differ from those of 2 previously published articles (62,63) concerning the association between TNFA polymorphisms and radiographic progression. This difference may be due to the shorter mean duration of RA in our patient population; the duration of RA in the population studied by Brinkman et al (62) ranged from 13.1 years to 17.7 years, but duration data were not provided in the article by Lacki et al (63). Some reports have suggested that the rate of radiographic progression may be higher in the first year of disease compared with subsequent years (64), although other reports suggest this difference is artificial (65,66).…”

The natural history and prognosis of rheumatoid arthritis: association of radiographic outcome with process variables, joint motion and immune proteins

“…In a study undertaken in order to investigate the relationship between TNFa gene polymorphism and the radiographic progression in 68 RA patients within the first 3 years of disease, no correlation between TNF gene polymorphism and damage score, or progression of damage score was observed. It was concluded that TNF-308 polymorphism cannot serve as an indicator of the disease course in RA patients (86).…”

Investigation of association between the TRAF family genes and RA susceptibility

“…For example, one promoter polymorphism, TNF-308G/A , has been associated with RA susceptibility in some studies1 2 or with RA severity 3 4. Other studies have found no such association 5 6. Furthermore, there are as many reports confirming a direct functional effect of this promoter polymorphism on TNFα protein levels7 – 10 as there are opposing it 11 – 13.…”