Tumour necrosis factor- (TNF- ) levels and influence of −308 TNF- promoter polymorphism on the responsiveness to infliximab in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

• Published in: Scandinavian journal of rheumatology 2004-07, Vol.33 (4), p.228-232
• Main Authors: Cuchacovich, M, Ferreira, L, Aliste, M, Soto, L, Cuenca, J, Cruzat, A, Gatica, H, Schiattino, I, Pérez, C, Aguirre, A, Salazar-Onfray, F, Aguillón, JC
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0300-9742; 1502-7732
• DOI: 10.1080/03009740410005863

Objective: To investigate the influence of −308 tumour necrosis factor- (TNF- ) promoter polymorphism and circulating TNF- levels in the clinical response to the infliximab treatment in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods: One hundred and thirty-two RA patients were genotyped for TNF- promoter by polymerase-chain reaction restriction fragment-length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) analysis. Ten patients with the −308 TNF- gene promoter genotype G A, and 10 with the G G genotype were selected and received 3 mg kg of infliximab at Weeks 0, 2, 6, and 14. Results: Both groups showed a significant improvement with treatment in all variables studied. Total mean TNF- levels increased significantly with respect to basal levels in most of patients after treatment [probability (p)=0.04]. Only patients from G A showed a statistically significant correlation between ACR 50 and the increase of TNF- levels (p