-463 G/A myeloperoxidase promoter polymorphism in giant cell arteritis

C Salvarani ^1*, B Casali ¹, E Farnetti ¹, N Pipitone ¹, D Nicoli ¹, P Macchioni ¹, L Cimino ¹, G Bajocchi ¹, M Catanoso ¹, L Pattacini ¹, A Ghinoi ¹, G Restuccia ¹ and L Boiardi ¹

¹ Arcispedale S Maria Nuova, Italy

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: salvarani.carlo{at}asmn.re.it.

Accepted 27 July 2007

Abstract

Objective: To investigate potential associations between -463 G/A myeloperoxidase (MPO) promoter polymorphism and susceptibility to, and clinical features of giant cell arteritis (GCA).

Methods: A total of 156 patients with biopsy-proven GCA who were residents of Reggio Emilia, Italy, and 235 population-based controls from the same geographic area were genotyped for -463 G/A promoter polymorphism of the MPO gene by molecular methods. The patients were subgrouped according to the presence or absence of polymyalgia rheumatica and severe ischemic complications (visual loss and/or cerebrovascular accidents).

Results: The distribution of the MPO-G/A genotype differed significantly between GCA patients and the controls (Pcorr = 0.003). Allele G was significantly more frequent in GCA patients than in the controls (P corr = 0.0002, OR 2.0, 95% CI 1.4-2.9). Homozygosity for the G allele was significantly more frequent in GCA patients than in controls (P corr = 0.0002, OR 2.2, 95% CI 1.4-3.4). No significant associations were found when GCA patients with and without polymyalgia rheumatica or with and without severe ischemic complications were compared.

Conclusion: Our findings show that the -463 G/A promoter polymorphism of the MPO gene is associated with GCA susceptibility and support a role for MPO in the pathophysiology of GCA.

Keywords: giant cell arteritis, ischemic complication, myeloperoxidase polymorphism, myeloperoxise

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