Objective: To determine whether transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) polymorphisms are associated with susceptibility to rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and to analyse whether they can affect the progression of radiographic severity. Methods: A total of 143 RA patients and 148 healthy unrelated controls were tested for the TGF-β1 polymorphisms using polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). Results: The TGF-β1 polymorphisms were not associated with susceptibility to RA, although there was a trend that −509C/T and the 869T/C polymorphisms were associated with RA in the male population. The progression of radiographic severity, which was defined by a modified Sharp score plotted against disease duration, was significantly faster in the carrier of T allele at the −509 (p=0.048). Conclusion: Our data support the hypothesis that TGF-β1 polymorphism may determine the progression of joint destruction in RA.
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