Glutathione S-Transferase Gene Polymorphisms as Predictors of Methotrexate Efficacy in Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis

Abstract

Because of the unpredictable efficacy of methotrexate (MTX) in the treatment of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), the possibility of a favourable outcome is reduced in more than 30% of patients. To investigate the possible influence of glutathione S-transferase M1 (GSTM1) and T1 (GSTT1) gene deletion polymorphisms on MTX efficacy in patients with JIA, we determined these polymorphisms in 63 patients with JIA who did not achieve remission and 46 patients with JIA who achieved remission during MTX therapy. No significant differences were observed in the distribution of single GSTM1 or GSTT1 deletion polymorphisms or their combination between the two groups: 58.7% to 63.5%; p = 0.567, 17.4% to 22.2%; p = 0.502, and 13% to 12.7%; p = 0.966, respectively. Our results suggest that GSTM1 and GSTT1 deletion polymorphisms do not influence the efficacy of MTX in patients with JIA. Additional studies are required to determine the possible influence of GST deletion polymorphisms on MTX efficacy in patients with JIA.