Association of Leukotriene C4 Synthase A-444C Polymorphism with Asthma and Asthma Phenotypes in Romanian Population.

Introduction: Leukotriene C4 synthase (LTC4S) gene -444A/C polymorphism has been implicated in susceptibility to asthma, but a large number of studies have reported inconclusive results. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between the -444A/C polymorphism of LTC4S gene and asthma, asthma phenotypes (aspirin intolerant/tolerant asthma) and different characteristics of the patients.

Material And Methods: We included 106 patients with asthma (60 with aspirin tolerant asthma - ATA, 46 with aspirin intolerant asthma - AIA) and 103 controls.

A pilot study of the association of tumor necrosis factor alpha polymorphisms with psoriatic arthritis in the Romanian population.

Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) is an important pro-inflammatory cytokine implicated in the pathogenesis of psoriatic arthritis. We have performed a case-control association study of three TNF-alpha gene polymorphisms in a group of Romanian psoriatic arthritis patients versus ethnically matched controls. A second group of patients with undifferentiated spondyloarthritis was used in order to look for similarities in the genetic background of the two rheumatic disorders.