الفهرس 
IntroductionOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
VEGF one of the most potent factors in RA development, that seems to be responsible for typical hypertrophied synovium (pannus), edema, swelling and chondrolytic and osteolytic reactions, and is expressed in synovial fibroblasts, fibroblasts close to microvessels, vascular smooth muscle and macrophages, but not in endothelial cells Thus, genetic variability of the VEGF-A gene may have an important role in determining and/or modifying the development and progression of articular manifestations and the response to anti-VEGF therapy Several SNPs have been identified in the VEGF-A gene and are believed to have functional activity Objectives The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of a common genetic polymorphism in the vascular endothelial growth factor gene on disease activity and synovial lesions in patients with rheumatoid arthritis in Egyptian population. Subjects and methods This case-control study included 80 consecutive RA patients were recruited from the Rheumatology and Rehabilitation Outpatient Clinics, Mansoura University Hospital,. In addition, 80 unrelated age- and sex-matched healthy control volunteers were randomly collected and invited to participate in the study. Patients were diagnosed according to the ACR/EULAR 2010 criteria.All patients were subjected to the following: Full medical history taking. Complete clinical examination.Assessment of disease activity: using DAS28-ESR score. Power Doppler ultrasonography for the most affected joints of each RA patient. Laboratory investigations: Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR).C-reactive protein (CRP). Rheumatoid factor (RF). Anti-citrullinated protein antibody (Anti-CCP).VEGF gene polymorphism detection by PCR-RFLP (gene study and an allele study). Results There is a significant association between TT genotype and RA. There is a significant association between T allele and RA. TJC and SJC were significantly higher with TT genotype as well as T allele, While other clinical findings didn’t show any significant differences among RA patients. There is a significant association between TT genotype as well as T allele and high DAS28-ESR. There is a significant association between TT genotype and grade 3 PDUS as well as T allele and grade 2 PDUS. There is a significant association between TT genotype as well as T allele and high ESR in RA patients. While other laboratory investigations did not show any significant association. Conclusion: Our data suggests a trend of association between VEGF gene SNP rs3025039 and increased risk for RA as well as high disease activity among Egyptian population. Thus, VEGF gene polymorphism appears to be a potential diagnostic activity indicator and a promising therapeutic target for RA patients.