Association Between Interleukin 1 Polymorphisms and Rheumatoid Arthritis Susceptibility: A Metaanalysis

Abstract

Objective. To determine whether interleukin I (IL-1) polymorphisms confer susceptibility to rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods. We conducted metaanalyses on associations between IL-1 polymorphisms and RA susceptibility, using fixed or random effects models. Results. A total of 18 separate comparisons were made using 10 European, 7 Asian, and I Latin American population samples. Metaanalysis of the IL-1B+3954 CC genotype revealed an association with RA in all subjects (odds ratio = 0.776, 95% confidence interval = 0.609-0.988 p = 0.040). In Asians, an association between IL-1B+3954 and RA was identified. In contrast, no association was found between the IL-1B+3954 polymorphism and RA susceptibility in European Populations. Metaanalyses of the IL-1B-511 and IL-1RN VNTR polymorphisms identified no association between these polymorphisms and RA. Conclusion. Our metaanalysis shows that the IL-1B+3954 polymorphism was associated with the development of RA, but only in Asians. (First Release Nov 1 2008; J Rheumatol 2009:36:12-15; doi: 10.3899/jrheum.080450)