Lack of association between CXCL9 and CXCL10 gene polymorphisms and the outcome of rheumatoid arthritis treatment with methotrexate

D. Kotrych, V. Dziedziejko, K. Safranow, A. Pawlik

Departament of Orthopaedics, Traumatology and Orthopaedic Oncology, Pomeranian Medical University, Szczecin, Poland. pawand@poczta.onet.pl

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• Rheumatology

OBJECTIVE: Methotrexate (MTX) in low doses is used in the therapy of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The aim of many studies is to identify factors predicting the outcome of treatment with methotrexate in rheumatoid arthritis. The action of MTX in RA is associated with the inhibition of inflammatory mediators synthesis. CXCL9 and CXCL10 chemokines play the important role in inflammatory response in RA patients. The aim of this study was to examine the association between CXCL9/10 gene polymorphisms and response to therapy of RA patients with MTX.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study included 422 patients diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, treated with MTX in doses 20 mg weekly. Good responders were defined as patients who were receiving MTX and had a DAS28 of ≤ 2.5 at 6 months of therapy. Poor-responders were defined as patients who were receiving MTX and had a DAS28 of > 2.5.

RESULTS: There were not statistically significant associations between studied polymorphisms and the outcome of rheumatoid arthritis treatment with methotrexate.

CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest lack of associations between the polymorphisms in CXCL9 and CXCL10 genes and the response to MTX in RA patients.

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