Rheumatoid Arthritis among South Asian and Caucasian Populations of the East Midlands in the UK

A comparative study of eight candidate genes in the two ethnic groups with Rheumatoid Arthritis. The study of eight genes, relevant to Rheumatoid Arthritis in the South Asian and Caucasian patients and the non-affected matched ethnic siblings and controls, residing in the East Midlands of the UK is fully encompassed in the book. The disease, treatment with currently available drugs and the genetic basis, including the aetiology of the disease is explained. The raison d'ętre for studying VDR BsmI, FokI, TNFR2, A2M, GSTT1, GSTM1, CRHRA1, CRHRA2, FcgRIIIA and ACE genes, and the association analysis with the disease is fully covered. Significant genetic associations were observed with TNFR2, A2M, and GSTT1 among Caucasians and with VDR BsmI, A2M and GSTT1 in South Asians. In the majority of cases, recessive and multiplicative modes of inheritance explained the observed associations. The hypothesised roles of these genes in sustaining and progressing RA is also discussed, with reference to the role of free radicals formed by infective agents. That ethnicity affects the genetic associations in RA is well highlighted in the book.