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ID PMID Title PublicationDate abstract
20346099 DNA microarray analysis of rheumatoid arthritis susceptibility genes identified by genome- 2010
20307377 Electrophysiological assessment of polyneuropathic involvement in rheumatoid arthritis: re 2010 Sep OBJECTIVES: The aims of this study were to electrophysiologically evaluate polyneuropathy in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and to examine the relationships among polyneuropathy and demographic, clinical and laboratory findings. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Sixty consecutive patients (51 women and nine men) with a clinical diagnosis of RA were examined electrophysiologically for the evidence of polyneuropathy. Parameters including age, gender, subcutaneous nodules, erosions, joint deformities, laboratory parameters, duration of RA, as well as dose, duration and type of disease modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD) and steroid usage were recorded. RA activity was assessed using a 28-joint disease activity score (DAS28). The functional status of patients was measured using the health assessment questionnaire (HAQ). The symptoms and signs of polyneuropathy were quantified using the neuropathy symptoms score (NSS) and the neuropathy disability score (NDS), respectively. RESULTS: Ten patients (17%, eight women and two men) had polyneuropathic involvement as defined by nerve conduction studies (NCS). Two patients had mild symmetric sensory neuropathy and eight patients had mild symmetric sensorimotor axonal polyneuropathy. There was no significant difference in age, gender, subcutaneous nodules, erosions, joint deformities, rheumatoid factor, as well as dose, duration and type of DMARD and steroid therapy administered. We found a significant relationship among polyneuropathy and duration of RA, DAS28, HAQ, as well as abnormal NSS and NDS values. The durations of RA and DAS28 were also associated with a four- and three-fold increase in the risk of polyneuropathy, respectively. CONCLUSION: Mild symmetric sensory or sensorimotor axonal polyneuropathies are common in RA patients and it is difficult to distinguish the symptoms of polyneuropathy from those of arthritis. An electrophysiological examination should be routinely carried out especially when patients have had a long disease duration and high scores for DAS28, HAQ, NSS and NDS.
19286851 Implementation of Z-scores as an age- and sex-independent parameter for estimating joint s 2009 Apr OBJECTIVE: To compare normative data of joint space distances (JSD) with the JSD of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) as measured by computer-aided joint space analysis (CAJSA) at the metacarpophalangeal (MCP) articulations, and to differentiate age- and sex-related alterations from the disease-related joint space narrowing. METHODS: In total, 256 healthy subjects and 248 patients with verified RA (following revised ACR criteria) underwent computerized semiautomated measurements of JSD (CAJSA, version 1.3.6) at the MCP articulation (JSD-MCP) based on digital radiographs. The Z-score, a comparative parameter that differentiates joint space alterations caused by RA-related cartilage destruction from age- and sex-related changes, was calculated. RESULTS: Our data showed a relationship between measured joint space widths (MCP total and MCP thumb to little finger) and age for healthy subjects and also the RA group. The RA group revealed an age-related joint space narrowing that was surpassed by the RA-related narrowing of joint space widths classified by Sharp joint space narrowing score and resulting in smaller Z-scores for RA patients. CONCLUSION: The CAJSA technique seems to distinguish age-related JSD changes in healthy volunteers from RA-induced alterations. In addition the Z-score was also able to differentiate RA-dependent narrowing of JSD. Calculation of the Z-scores based on sex- and age-specific reference data may facilitate earlier identification of patients with RA, allowing initiation of a more optimal, individually adapted therapeutic strategy.
20682674 Effect of psychological distress on continuation of anti-tumor necrosis factor therapy in 2010 Oct OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship of psychological distress and associated factors with continuation of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) antagonist therapy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: Patients about to start therapy with TNF antagonists (n = 166) were assessed for psychological distress using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). A core set of demographic and clinical variables, including comorbidities from medical records and cigarette smoking history by questionnaire, were recorded at baseline and regular intervals thereafter. Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was used to assess the likelihood of patients discontinuing therapy over a 36-month followup period. RESULTS: The number of years smoked was associated with anxiety (HADS-A; p for trend = 0.008) and general psychological distress (HADS-Total; p for trend = 0.03). In univariate analyses, earlier discontinuation was associated with these variables at baseline: anxiety (HADS-A), depression (HADS-D), abnormal mood (HADS-Total), smoking history (> 30 pack-yrs), years smoked (> 30 yrs), current smoking, high Disease Activity Score 28-joint count (DAS28), poor patient global assessment, and evidence of cardio/cerebrovascular disease (CVD). In multivariate analyses, the strongest predictors of discontinuation were HADS-Total, smoking history (> 30 pack-yrs), DAS28, and evidence of CVD at baseline. CONCLUSION: Discontinuation of therapy with TNF antagonists is independently associated with psychological distress, heavy smoking, and CVD at baseline.
21116853 Sphingosine-1-phosphate: a potential therapeutic target for rheumatoid arthritis. 2011 Aug Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic systemic autoimmune disease, which has as its primary target, the synovial tissues and articular cartilage. The current pharmacological treatment of RA includes non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, corticosteroids, and disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs. Newer biological agents that work by inactivation of proinflammatory cytokines are available for treatment of RA. Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) is a bioactive lipid that is generated from phosphorylation of sphingosine by activation of sphingosine kinase, and has been implicated as an important mediator in pathophysiological processes, including cell growth, differentiation, migration and survival, and angiogenesis. Several studies have explored the role of S1P in the pathogenesis of RA. The aim of this article was to review the biology and distribution of S1P, together with its role in RA, and to discuss its potential as a therapeutic target for RA.
21253618 Study on the possible role of the -174G>C IL-6 promoter polymorphism in predicting respons 2010 Oct OBJECTIVE: Identification of genetic biomarkers of response to biologics in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a relevant issue. The -174G>C interleukin-6 (IL-6) promoter polymorphism was investigated in RA patients treated with rituximab (RTX), being IL-6 a key cytokine for B cell survival and proliferation, thus possibly implicated in rituximab efficacy. METHODS: The study was conducted in a real-life retrospective cohort of 142 unselected RA patients (120F/22M) treated with RTX and referred to 7 rheumatologic centres in the north of Italy. One hundred and thirteen (79.6%) patients were rheumatoid factor (RF)-positive and 112 (78.9%) were anti-CCP antibodies positive. The response to therapy was evaluated at the end of the sixth month after the first RTX infusion, by using both the EULAR criteria (DAS28) and the ACR criteria. The IL-6 -174G>C promoter polymorphism was analyzed by RFLP following previously reported methods. RESULTS: Lack of response to RTX at month +6 by EULAR criteria was more prevalent in RA patients with the IL-6 -174 CC genotypes (9/21, 42.8%), than in the GC/GG patients (23/121, 19.0%) (OR 3.196, 95% CI=1.204-8.485; p=0.0234). Similar results were found when evaluating the response by ACR criteria. No differences were found in RA duration, baseline DAS28, baseline HAQ, RF status, anti-CCP status according to the different IL-6 -174 genotypes. CONCLUSION: IL-6 promoter genotyping may be useful to better plan treatment with RTX in RA. Larger replication studies are in course to confirm these preliminary results.
20535797 Patient-physician discordance in assessments of global disease severity in rheumatoid arth 2010 Jun OBJECTIVE: To determine the degree of discordance between patient and physician assessment of disease severity in a multiethnic cohort of adults with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), to explore predictors of discordance, and to examine the impact of discordance on the Disease Activity Score in 28 joints (DAS28). METHODS: Adults with RA (n = 223) and their rheumatologists completed a visual analog scale (VAS) for global disease severity independently. Patient demographics, the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) depression scale score, the Health Assessment Questionnaire score, and the DAS28 were also collected. Logistic regression analyses were used to identify predictors of positive discordance, defined as a patient rating minus physician rating of >25 mm on a 100-mm VAS (considered clinically relevant). DAS28 scores stratified by level of discordance were compared using a paired t-test. RESULTS: Positive discordance was found in 30% of cases, with a mean +/- SD difference of 46 +/- 15. The strongest independent predictor of discordance was a 5-point increase in PHQ-9 score (adjusted odds ratio 1.61, 95% confidence interval 1.02-2.55). Higher swollen joint count and Cantonese/Mandarin language were associated with lower odds of discordance. DAS28 scores were most divergent among subjects with discordance. CONCLUSION: Nearly one-third of RA patients differed from their physicians to a meaningful degree in assessment of global disease severity. Higher depressive symptoms were associated with discordance. Further investigation of the relationships between mood, disease activity, and discordance may guide interventions to improve care for adults with RA.
20722031 Long-term impact of delay in assessment of patients with early arthritis. 2010 Dec OBJECTIVE: During the last decade, rheumatologists have learned to initiate disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) early to improve the outcome of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, the effect of delay in assessment by a rheumatologist on the outcome of RA has scarcely been explored. The purpose of this study was to examine the association between delay in assessment by a rheumatologist, rates of joint destruction, and probability of achieving DMARD-free remission in patients with RA. Patient characteristics associated with components of delay (by the patient, by the general practitioner [GP], and overall) were assessed. METHODS: A total of 1,674 early arthritis patients from the Leiden Early Arthritis Clinic cohort were evaluated for patient delay, GP delay, and total delay in assessment by a rheumatologist. Among 598 RA patients, associations between total delay, achievement of sustained DMARD-free remission, and the rate of joint destruction over 6 years followup were determined. RESULTS: The median patient, GP, and total delays in seeing a rheumatologist among patients with early arthritis were 2.4 weeks, 8.0 weeks, and 13.7 weeks, respectively. Among all diagnoses, those diagnosed as having RA or spondylarthritis had the longest total delay (18 weeks). Among the RA patients, 69% were assessed in ≥12 weeks; this was associated with a hazard ratio of 1.87 for not achieving DMARD-free remission and a 1.3 times higher rate of joint destruction over 6 years, as compared with assessment in <12 weeks. Older age, female sex, gradual symptom onset, involvement of the small joints, lower levels of C-reactive protein, and the presence of autoantibodies were associated with longer total delay. CONCLUSION: Only 31% of the RA patients were assessed in <12 weeks of symptom onset. Assessment in <12 weeks is associated with less joint destruction and a higher chance of achieving DMARD-free remission as compared with a longer delay in assessment. These results imply that attempts to diminish the delay in seeing a rheumatologist will improve disease outcome in patients with RA.
20444856 Working status in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis and psoriatic 2010 Aug OBJECTIVE: To describe working status in patients with RA, AS and PsA treated with anti-TNF therapy registered with the British Society for Rheumatology Biologics Register. METHODS: Patients with RA (n = 3291), AS (n = 229) and PsA (n = 254) treated with anti-TNF therapy were included in this study. In addition, biologic-naive patients with RA (n = 379) were included. At baseline and 3 years after registration, all patients reported their working status. Baseline characteristics between working and work-disabled patients were compared. Logistic regression analysis was applied to identify factors associated with new work disability in patients with RA. RESULTS: At baseline, work disability rates were already high: 49% for RA, 39% for PsA, 41% for AS and 36% for biologic-naive patients. Work-disabled patients had a higher HAQ score and worse disease activity than working patients. Working patients with a high HAQ score [odds ratio (OR) 2.79; 95% CI 1.89, 4.12] and a manual job (OR 2.31; 95% CI 1.52, 3.52) at baseline were more likely to become work disabled at follow-up, while those patients in remission 6 months after commencing anti-TNF therapy were less likely to become work disabled. However, use of anti-TNF therapy did not prevent patients with RA from becoming work disabled (OR for RA control patients vs RA anti-TNF patients 0.80; 95% CI 0.36, 1.81, adjusted for baseline variables). CONCLUSION: A high percentage of patients with RA, AS and PsA were already work disabled at the start of anti-TNF therapy. There is less future work disability in working patients with RA who responded to anti-TNF therapy.
19663188 [Effects of recurrent herpetic infection on functional activity of T-cells in patients wit 2009 AIM: To evaluate effects of recurrent herpetic infection on functional activity of regulatory cell subpopulations in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We studied in vitro production of marker cytokines of type 1 T-helpers (IL-2), type 2 T-helpers (IL-4), type 3 T-helpers TGFbeta and type 1 T-regulators (IL-10) and counted CD4+CD25+ T-cells in the blood of patients with recurrent herpetic infection and having no clinical manifestations of Herpes virus reactivation. RESULTS: Patients with recurrent herpes had more active production of IL-10, but reduced count of CD4+CD25+ lymphocytes. CONCLUSION: IL-10 hyperproduction observed in recurrent herpetic infection may contribute to progression of rheumatoid arthritis.
20141893 Delayed-onset ulnar neuropathy at the wrist associated with distal radioulnar joint arthri 2010 Feb Although ulnar neuropathy can occur at the wrist in association with distal radius fractures, few late-onset cases have been reported. The authors describe 2 cases of delayed-onset ulnar neuropathy at the wrist, which developed 12 and 30 years after sustaining a conservatively treated distal radius fracture. During late neurolysis, both patients were found to have a perforation in the volar wrist capsule and synovitis and arthritis in the distal radioulnar joint.
19618701 Cultural syndromes and age moderate the emotional impact of illness intrusiveness in rheum 2009 Feb OBJECTIVE: The authors investigated cultural syndromes (multidimensional vectors comprising culturally based attitudes, values, and beliefs) and age as moderators of the emotional impact of illness intrusiveness--illness-induced lifestyle disruptions--in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and examined illness intrusiveness effects in total and separately for three life domains (relationships and personal development, intimacy, and instrumental). RESEARCH METHOD/DESIGN: People with RA (n = 105) completed the Illness Intrusiveness Ratings, Individualism-Collectivism, and Center for Epidemiologic Studies--Depression scales in a one-on-one interview. RESULTS: Controlling for disease and background characteristics, the association between illness intrusiveness (total score and the Relationships and Personal Development subscale) and distress was inverse when young adults with RA endorsed high horizontal individualism. Illness intrusiveness into intimacy was associated with increased distress, and this intensified when respondents endorsed high vertical individualism, horizontal collectivism, vertical collectivism, or low horizontal individualism. The negative emotional impact of illness intrusiveness into intimacy diminished with increasing age. CONCLUSION: Given an aging and increasingly pluralistic society, diversity can no longer be ignored in addressing the psychosocial impact of chronic, disabling disease.
20570837 Interobserver reliability of ultrasonography in the assessment of cartilage damage in rheu 2010 Oct OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the interobserver reliability of ultrasonography (US) in the assessment of cartilage damage at metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joint level in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: US examinations were performed on 80 MCP joints of 20 patients with RA using a MyLab70 XVG (Esaote Biomedica, Genoa, Italy), equipped with a broadband linear probe (6-18 MHz). For each patient, second and third MCP joints of both hands were examined independently on the same day by two rheumatologists (an experienced musculoskeletal sonographer and an investigator with limited US training). A multiplanar scanning technique on dorsal, lateral and volar aspects of the MCP joints was adopted. All US pathological findings were documented on at least two perpendicular scanning planes. Each joint was assessed by quadrant for the presence or absence of cartilage damage. Cartilage damage was also scored per quadrant on a five-grade semiquantitative scoring system on which investigators reached a consensus prior to the study. RESULTS: Exact agreement between investigators was found in 173 out of 200 quadrants (86.5%) with regard to presence or absence of cartilage damage. Percentages of exact agreement for cartilage damage semiquantitative assessment at dorsal, lateral and volar quadrants were 72.5%, 52.5% and 85%, respectively, while unweighted κ values were 0.561, 0.366 and 0.766, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The present study demonstrated moderate to good interobserver reproducibility of a semiquantitative scoring system based on qualitative morphological changes for cartilage damage at MCP joint level in patients with RA.
19852747 Can RAPID3, an index without formal joint counts or laboratory tests, serve to guide rheum 2009 Tight control of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) may be guided by RAPID3 (routine assessment of patient index data), an index without formal joint counts or laboratory tests, which can be scored on a multidimensional health assessment questionnaire (MDHAQ) in 5 seconds, compared to 42 seconds to score a standard HAQ, 90 seconds to perform a 28-joint count, 114 seconds to score a disease activity score 28 (DAS28), and 106 seconds to score a clinical disease activity index (CDAI). RAPID3 scores are correlated significantly with DAS28 and CDAI (rho > 0.65, p < 0.001), and distinguish active from control treatment similarly to DAS28 and CDAI in clinical trials of methotrexate, lefunomide, adalimumab, abatacept, certolizumab, and infiximab. RAPID3 scores can be used to classify patient disease activity status as high (> 12), moderate (6.1-12), low (3.1-6), and remission (
20103404 Feasibility and outcomes of a home-based exercise program on improving balance and gait st 2010 Jan Williams SB, Brand CA, Hill KD, Hunt SB, Moran H. Feasibility and outcomes of a home-based exercise program on improving balance and gait stability in women with lower-limb osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis: a pilot study. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the feasibility and gait stability and balance outcomes of a 4-month individualized home exercise program for women with arthritis. DESIGN: Pre-post interventional study. SETTING: General community. PARTICIPANTS: Women (N=49) (volunteers) with lower-limb osteoarthritis or lower-limb rheumatoid arthritis were enrolled. Only 39 subjects were eligible and completed the study. INTERVENTION: After completion of the initial assessment, all participants received home balance exercises from an experienced physiotherapist based on assessment findings and exercises available from commercially available kits. All measures were repeated 4 months later. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Falls risk (Falls Risk of Older People-Community Setting) and balance measures. RESULTS: Thirty-nine women (mean age, 69.3y; 95% confidence interval, 65.7-72.9) completed the 4-month program. At baseline, 64% of participants reported falling in the preceding 12 months, and the average falls risk (Falls Risk of Older People-Community Setting) score was 14.5, with 42% rated as moderate risk (16-23). Participants achieved improved performance on most balance and related measures after the exercise program, including falls risk (P=.01), activity levels (P=.015), fear of falling (P=.022), functional reach test (P=.001), rising index for sit to stand (P=.001), step width in walking (P=.001), and body mass index (P=.006). CONCLUSIONS: An individualized balance training home exercise program is feasible for older women with osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis and may improve stability during walking and other functional activities.
21261115 [Evaluation of 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 activity in female patients with 2010 Dec INTRODUCTION: Cortisol levels in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are considered inadequate to ongoing inflammation. One possible mechanism ofthe relative cortisol deficit can be decreased 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11BHSD1) activity, an enzyme that converts inactive cortisone to active cortisol. The aim of the study was to determine systemic and local activity of 11 BHSD1 in female patients with RA. METHODS: Six female RA patients without glucocorticoid therapy (age 29 +/- 2 years, BMI 21 +/- 1 kg/m2) and six healthy women (age 30 +/- 2 years, BMI 21 +/- 1 kg/m2) were studied. Endogenous cortisol production was suppressed by dexamethasone. 11BHSD1 activity was evaluated by changes in concentrations of total plasma, free plasma, salivary and cortisol in subcutaneous adipose tissue after cortisone acetate administration (25 mg per os). RESULTS: Concentrations of total plasma, free plasma, salivary, and tissue cortisol increased significantly, however there was no significant difference between RA patients and controls. CONCLUSION: The result suggests comparable systemic and adipose tissue conversion of cortisone to cortisol. Despite chronic inflammation, systemic activity of 11BHSD1 is not responsible for relative adrenal deficiency in RA. Changes in local activity of the enzyme in tissues affected by inflammatory process cannot be excluded.
19921094 Cyclic AMP response element-binding protein is implicated in IL-6 production from arthriti 2010 Apr Overproduction of interleukin (IL)-6 from synovial cells is critically involved in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Cyclic adenosine monophosphate (AMP) response element-binding protein (CREB), a leucine zipper transcription factor, is expressed at a high level in synovial cells of patients with RA. Although CREB transactivates IL-6 expression in vascular smooth muscle cells, the relation between CREB expression and IL-6 production from arthritic synovial cells remains unclear. In this study, to determine whether CREB is implicated in IL-6 production from arthritic synovial cells, a dominant negative molecule of activation transcription factor 1 (ATF-1) was transfected into synovial cells obtained from arthritic joints of env-pX rats. These transgenic rats carrying the env-pX gene of human T-cell leukemia virus type-1 develop destructive arthritis with high titers of serum rheumatoid factor and are thus regarded as a suitable model of RA. The dominant negative ATF-1 (ATF-1DN) constitutes a heterodimer with CREB and inhibits CREB function, as CREB/ATF-1DN heterodimers no longer bind to the target sequence of CREB. We showed that transfection of ATF-1DN significantly reduced IL-6 production from arthritic synovial cells. These findings suggest that CREB is implicated in IL-6 production from synovial cells and plays an important role in RA pathogenesis.
19822056 The economic burden of disease: comparison between rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spo 2009 Jul During the last decade the economic burden of rheumatic diseases has been increasingly recognised. Even though more studies have been published on rheumatoid arthritis (RA) than ankylosing spondylitis (AS) sufficient data is available for comparison of some economic consequences. This overview addresses mainly the societal impact of RA and AS on (1) labour force participation, on (2) the costs of healthcare consumption and reduced productivity and on (3) health in terms of QALY.In order to examine labour force participation comparison with the general population is preferable. These studies demonstrate increased withdrawal from work in both diseases but more frequently in RA. Risk factors for reduced labour force participation in RA and AS are longer disease duration, lower education and unfavourable labour market conditions. The influence of the sex on employment depends on several factors such as the type of disease and the labour force participation of the general population.In RA overall mean direct costs of healthcare consumption and indirect costs of reduced productivity are above that of AS, particularly after long disease duration. Out-of-pocket expenditures costs were higher in females RA patients than in males while this was less clear in AS. The main cost driver in both diseases for all type of costs was reduced physical function.The societal valuation of health (utility) showed similar reductions of quality adjusted life years (QALYs) in RA and AS when compared with the general population.In conclusion, while the societal valuation of the impact of both diseases on health is similar, the decrease in worker participation is more pronounced in RA and direct as well as productivity costs are higher. However, since AS starts at an earlier age, the lifetime economic burden might be higher. There is a strong relation between physical function and each aspect of economic impact.
19924711 Genome-wide association analyses of quantitative traits: the GAW16 experience. 2009 The group that formed on the theme of genome-wide association analyses of quantitative traits (Group 2) in the Genetic Analysis Workshop 16 comprised eight sets of investigators. Three data sets were available: one on autoantibodies related to rheumatoid arthritis provided by the North American Rheumatoid Arthritis Consortium; the second on anthropometric, lipid, and biochemical measures provided by the Framingham Heart Study (FHS); and the third a simulated data set modeled after FHS. The different investigators in the group addressed a large set of statistical challenges and applied a wide spectrum of association methods in analyzing quantitative traits at the genome-wide level. While some previously reported genes were validated, some novel chromosomal regions provided significant evidence of association in multiple contributions in the group. In this report, we discuss the different strategies explored by the different investigators with the common goal of improving the power to detect association.
19030862 The Val762Ala polymorphism in the poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 gene is not associated wit 2009 May The findings of the studies on poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1) have suggested that the enzyme inactivation provides significant protection against systemic or tissue inflammation in animal models. It has also shown that the single-nucleotide polymorphism (Val762Ala) of the PARP-1 causes about 40% decrease of enzyme activity. The aim of this study was to analyze the association of the PARP-1 Val762Ala polymorphism in Turkish patients with rheumatoid arthritis. A total of 128 RA patients and 165 normal controls from the same geographic region were studied and polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based restriction analysis was used to identify Val762Ala polymorphism of the PARP-1. Association analyses were performed using chi (2) tests. Our results indicated that the distribution of the PARP-1 genotypes and alleles did not differ significantly among subjects with or without RA (P > 0.05). The results of the study indicate that, for our Turkish sample, the V762A polymorphism of the PARP-1 may not be involved in susceptibility to RA, implying that the polymorphism may not function as a candidate gene marker for screening RA patients.