Interleukin-1?, interleukin-1 receptor antagonist, interleukin-4, and interleukin-10 gene polymorphisms: Relationship to occurrence and severity of rheumatoid arthritis

Abstract

This report, for the first time, indicates an association between RA and a polymorphic IL-4 gene sequence located in 5q31-33. In addition, the results show the prognostic value of a polymorphism in IL-1beta exon 5, which allowed prediction of erosive disease with a specificity of 91.8% in 42.1% of patients. Although these observations are very interesting, they have to be considered preliminary and will need to be confirmed.