The purpose of this work was to analyze the possible influence of TNF
loci polymorphism on the susceptibility and/or the disease profile of
rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Tumor necrosis factor (alpha and beta) geno
types were determined in 60 patients with RA and 102 healthy subjects
by a method based on PCR-RFLP with amplification-create restriction si
tes. The results obtained in the present study showed that there is no
t a significant association of either TNF alpha promoter variation (at
positions -308 and -238) or TNF beta polymorphism with susceptibility
to RA. However, a significant difference in the mean age at disease o
nset was found between -238 TNF alpha genotypes. In addition, a differ
ence in the presence of nodular disease was observed between -308 TNF
alpha genotypes. The results of this study suggests that the TNF alpha
gene may play a role in the disease profile of rheumatoid arthritis.