FCGR2A, FCGR3A, FCGR3B polymorphisms and susceptibility to rheumatoid arthritis: a meta-analysis.

Objectives: The aim of this study is to explore whether Fc gamma receptor (FCGR) polymorphisms are associated with the susceptibility to rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
Methods: We conducted a meta-analysis on the association between FCGR2A H131R (rs1801274), FCGR3A F158V (rs396991), and FCGR3B NA1/NA2 polymorphisms and RA susceptibility.
Results: A total of seventeen studies reported in fourteen articles (4,418 patients with RA and 3,560 controls) were considered in our meta-analysis. In all of the study subjects, meta-analysis indicated an association between RA and FCGR2A R allele (OR=0.877, 95% CI=0.792-0.971, p=0.011). Stratification by ethnicity indicated an association between FCGR2A R allele and RA in Europeans (OR=0.816, 95% CI=0.687-0.968, p=0.020), but not in East Asians (OR=0.900, 95% CI=0.778-1.040, p=0.154). Meta-analysis revealed an association between RA and FCGR3A VV vs. FF genotype in all the study subjects (OR=1.210, 95% CI=1.067-1.479, p=0.006). Stratification by ethnicity indicated an association between FCGR3A VV genotype and RA compared toFF genotype in Europeans (OR=1.350, 95% CI=1.107-1.646, p=0.003), but not in East Asians and South Asians. No association was observed between RA and FCGR3B polymorphisms on performing the meta-analysis.
Conclusions: Although no relationship was found between the FCGR3B polymorphism and RA susceptibility, FCGR2A and FCGR3A polymorphisms were found to be associated with RA in Europeans, but not in Asians.