TGF beta1 polymorphisms are candidate predictors of the clinical response to rituximab in rheumatoid arthritis.

Objective: To evaluate the association between several candidate single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and responsiveness to rituximab in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: Sixty-three RA patients were included. Nine genes (13 SNPs) were subsequently analyzed, including those coding for cytokines involved in synovitis (IL10, LTA, TGFβ1, TNF-α, TNF receptor II) and genes associated with RA susceptibility (-C5 TRAF1, STAT4, TNFAIP3 and PTPN22).