Association between functional Fc receptor-like 3 (FCRL3) -169 C/T polymorphism and susceptibility to seropositive rheumatoid arthritis in Asians: a meta-analysis.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine whether the functional Fc receptor like-3 (FCRL3) -169 C/T polymorphism confers susceptibility to rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: A meta-analysis was conducted on the associations between the FCRL3 -169 C/T polymorphism and RA.

Results: A total of 17 comparison studies including 11,170 patients and 11,142 controls were considered in the meta-analysis. The meta-analysis showed no association between RA and the FCRL3 -169 C allele in study subjects (OR = 1.046, 95% CI = 0.997-1.098, p = 0.068). Stratification by ethnicity indicated an association between the FCRL3 -169 C allele and RA in Asians (OR = 1.101, 95% CI = 1.035-1.174, p = 0.002), but not in Europeans. Stratification of patients according to the presence of rheumatoid factor (RF) revealed a different significant association between the C allele and RA in RF-positive and RF-negative RA patients. Stratification by ethnicity indicated an association between the FCRL3 -169 C allele and RF-positive RA in Asians (OR = 1.093, 95% CI = 1.004-1.189, p = 0.040), but not in Europeans.

Conclusions: This meta-analysis demonstrates that the FCRL3 -169 C/T polymorphism may confer susceptibility to seropositive RA in Asians.