The frequency of toll-like receptor 4 gene polymorphism in ankylosing spondylitis and its relationship between disease activity

Objective. We aimed to evaluate the frequency of toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) gene polymorphism and itsrelationship between disease activity in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Methods. Forty-one ASpatients (25 male/16 female) fullfilling the 1984 Modified New York Criteria and 41 healthy controls (25male/16 female) were included in this study. Disease activity of the AS patients was assesed by Bath AnkylosingSpondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI). The TLR4 gene polymorphism of AS patients and healthycontrols were analyzed by Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) System. Results. Three (7.3%) patientswith AS had TLR4 gene polymorphism compared with healthy controls (0/41; 0%). Two of these patients hadheterozygous mutation and one had homozygous mutation. Significant correlation was not found betweenTLR4 gene polymorphism and BASDAI score (p > 0.05). Conclusions. In our study, TLR4 gene polymorphismwas higher in patients with AS compared with control group. But, this polymorphism was not associated withdisease activity, erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein levels