OBJECTIVE: To assess the role of @entity8996 promoter polymorphism of @entity650 ( @entity650 ) in the susceptibility to @entity2760 ( @entity2760 ). We also investigated whether this polymorphism modulates the circulating level of @entity650 and the risk of relapse/recurrence in a series of @entity1 with @entity2760 followed up prospectively. METHODS: A prospective study of 112 consecutive, untreated @entity1 with isolated @entity2760 (i.e., without evidence of @entity226 ) who were followed up for at least 24 months. This cohort represented all @entity1 diagnosed over a 5-year period in one Italian rheumatological secondary referral center. @entity1 were monitored for clinical signs/symptoms and acute-phase reactants. All @entity2760 @entity1 and 112 population-based controls from the same geographic area were genotyped for @entity650 polymorphism at position -174 by molecular methods. @entity650 serum levels were measured in 67 @entity2760 @entity1 and 43 population-based controls. RESULTS: The distribution of the @entity31812 genotype was similar in @entity2760 @entity1 and controls. No significant associations with @entity650 promoter polymorphism at position -174 were found when @entity2760 @entity1 with and without relapse/recurrence were compared. Controls homozygous for the C allele had higher serum @entity650 levels than the carriers of the G allele (4.5 +/- 3.7 pg/ml vs 1.8 +/- 2.1 pg/ml, p = 0.01). @entity1 homozygous for the allele C had significantly higher values of @entity650 during followup than @entity1 carrying GC or GG genotypes. CC homozygosity was significantly more frequent in @entity1 with persistently elevated levels of @entity650 than in those without. The presence of persistently elevated @entity650 levels, but not the CC genotype, was associated with an increased frequency of relapse/recurrence. CONCLUSION: Our findings show that the @entity31812 promoter @entity650 polymorphism is not implicated in susceptibility to @entity2760 . However, CC genotype characterized @entity2760 @entity1 with persistently elevated levels of @entity650 who are at higher risk of developing relapse/recurrence. A genetically modulated pattern of @entity650 production could affect the longterm outcome of @entity1 with @entity2760 .

Relationship between @entity650 promoter polymorphism at position -174, XXXX serum levels, and the risk of relapse/recurrence in @entity2760 .

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['Patients', 'patients'] @entity650 :: ('3569', 'Gene') :: ['IL-6', 'interleukin 6'] @entity226 :: ('MESH:D013700', 'Disease') :: ['giant cell arteritis'] @entity8996 :: ('c|SUB|G|-174|C', 'DNAMutation') :: ['-174 G/C'] @entity31812 :: ('c|SUB|G|174|C', 'DNAMutation') :: ['174 G/C', 'G/C 174'] @entity2760 :: ('MESH:D011111', 'Disease') :: ['polymyalgia rheumatica', 'PMR']
@entity650 :: (3569,Gene) :: ['IL-6']
