, and polymorphisms and adverse liver effects of methotrexate in rheumatoid arthritis.

To investigate whether variants of , and are associated with ALT elevation in rheumatoid arthritis patients starting methotrexate (MTX). Clinical and laboratory data were collected from the start of MTX treatment. Genotyping of , and was performed. Univariate and multiple logistic regression were used for statistical analysis. 34 out of 369 patients experienced ALT >1.5 × ULN less than 6 months from start. A1298C (rs1801131) was nominally associated with an ALT >1.5 × ULN within 6 months after the start of MTX (OR = 1.7 [95% CI: 1.04-2.9]; p = 0.03), but did not pass correction for multiple testing. A multiple model containing 1298C and clinical factors predicted the outcome (C-statistic 0.735). and were not associated with the outcome. A model containing 1298C and clinical factors might predict risk of early ALT elevation.