[A gene defect in the promoter of the endothelial NO synthase as a risk factor for rheumatoid arthritis].

The risk to develop rheumatoid arthritis (RA) includes environmental as well as genetic factors. Moreover, RA, being an inflammatory disease, is itself considered to be a risk factor for coronary artery disease, as it - or its treatment - may lead to endothelial dysfunction. Likewise, a single nucleotide polymorphism in the promoter of the endothelial NO synthase ((-786)C/T) leads to endothelial dysfunction in (-786)CC homozygous individuals. This genetic defect occurs in significantly higher frequencies in patients with RA, and therefore must be regarded as a genetic risk factor for RA.