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We performed this study to investigate the possible association between vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene polymorphism and the focal bone erosion in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients in Korea. One hundred and fifty-seven RA patients were enrolled and two control groups were selected. The focal bone erosion score was assessed by modified Sharp's method. Genotyping of VDR polymorphisms was performed by polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis using two restriction enzyme Taq I and Bsm I. Notably, the distribution of VDR genotype in Korean population was different from Caucasians. The frequencies of "tt" and "BB" genotypes were very rare both in RA patients and in control groups. The frequency distribution of the Taq I and Bsm I genotype was not different between RA patients (TT, 93.6% Tt, 6.4% tt, 0% BB, 0.6% Bb, 5.1% bb, 94.3%) and control groups (TT, 90.8% Tt, 7.5% tt, 1.7% BB, 1.4% Bb, 8.1% bb, 90.5%). There was no significant difference in the focal bone erosion score (mean±SD) according to the VDR genotypes of RA patients(TT, 0.92+1.79; Tt, 0.4+0.79; Bb, 0.43+0.80; bb, 0.92+1.79; p>0.05). In conclusion, these results suggest that VDR gene polymorphisms are not associated with the focal bone erosion in RA patients in Korea.
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