TNF-alpha gene polymorphism does not affect the clinical and radiological outcome of rheumatoid arthritis.

The present study was undertaken in order to investigate the relationship between tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) gene polymorphism and the radiological progression of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) within the first 3-years of the disease. Sixty-eight RA patients (59 women and nine men) were observed for 3-years. TNF-alpha polymorphism analysis was performed in all patients. Radiographs of the hands were taken at the onset of study and after 3-years of follow-up. Radiographs were assessed according to the Larsen index (damage score and progression of damage score). We did not observe any correlation between TNF gene polymorphism and damage score or progression of damage score. The obtained data suggests that TNF-308 polymorphism cannot serve as an indicator of the disease course in RA patients.