RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Lack of association between macrophage migration inhibitory factor gene polymorphism and giant cell arteritis. JF The Journal of Rheumatology JO J Rheumatol FD The Journal of Rheumatology SP 74 OP 76 VO 32 IS 1 A1 Mahsa M Amoli A1 Carlos Garcia-Porrua A1 William E R Ollier A1 Miguel A Gonzalez-Gay YR 2005 UL http://www.jrheum.org/content/32/1/74.abstract AB OBJECTIVE: To investigate the role of macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) gene polymorphism in giant cell arteritis (GCA). METHODS: Eighty-three patients with biopsy-proven GCA, 20 of them with visual ischemic complications, and 122 healthy matched controls from the Lugo region of Northwest Spain were studied. Patients and controls were genotyped for a single nucleotide polymorphism in the 5'-flanking region at position -173 of the MIF gene, using SNapshot ddNTP primer extension, followed by capillary electrophoresis (ABI 3100). RESULTS: No significant differences in MIF gene polymorphism were observed in patients with biopsy-proven GCA compared to controls. This was also the case when GCA patients with or without visual ischemic complications were compared. CONCLUSION: Polymorphism in MIF gene promoter -173 G/C does not appear to be a genetic risk factor for GCA in Northwest Spain.