A large multicenter analysis of CTGF -945 promoter polymorphism does not confirm association with Systemic Sclerosis susceptibility or phenotype.

OBJECTIVE: In this work we conducted a replication study to investigate whether the -945 CTGF genetic variant is associated with SSc susceptibility or specific SSc phenotype. METHODS: The study population comprised of 1180 SSc patients and 1784 healthy controls from seven independent case-control sets of European ancestry (Spanish, French, Dutch, German, British, Swedish and North American). The -945 CTGF genetic variant was genotyped using a Taqman 5' allelic discrimination assay. RESULTS: First we conducted an independent association study that revealed in all case-control cohorts under study no association of the CTGF -945 polymorphism with SSc susceptibility. These findings were confirmed by a meta-analysis that reached a pooled OR of 1.12 (95 % CI 0.99-1.25, P=0.06). In addition, the possible contribution of the -945 CTGF genetic variant to SSc phenotype was investigated. However, stratification according to SSc subtypes (limited or diffuse), selective autoantibodies (antitopoisomerase I or anti-centromere) or pulmonary involvement reached no statistically significant skewing. CONCLUSION: Our results do not confirm previous findings and suggest that the CTGF -945 promoter polymorphism does not play a major role in SSc susceptibility or clinical phenotype

Lessons from the "Euro-Lupus Cohort".

The "Euro-Lupus Cohort" is composed by 1,000 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) that have been followed prospectively since 1991. These patients have been gathered by a European consortium - the "Euro-Lupus Project Group". This consortium was originated as part of the network promoted by the "European Working Party on SLE", a working group created in 1990 in order to promote research in Europe on the different problems related to this disease. The "Euro-Lupus Cohort" provides an updated information on the SLE morbidity and mortality characteristics in the present decade as well as defines several clinical and immunological prognostic factor

Lessons from the "Euro-Lupus Cohort".

The "Euro-Lupus Cohort" is composed by 1,000 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) that have been followed prospectively since 1991. These patients have been gathered by a European consortium - the "Euro-Lupus Project Group". This consortium was originated as part of the network promoted by the "European Working Party on SLE", a working group created in 1990 in order to promote research in Europe on the different problems related to this disease. The "Euro-Lupus Cohort" provides an updated information on the SLE morbidity and mortality characteristics in the present decade as well as defines several clinical and immunological prognostic factor