Abstract: Objective: To investigate a possible association of specific polymorphisms of interleukin 1(IL-1) receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) genes with susceptibility for Behcet′s disease (BD) with uveitis. Methods: The genotypes of a total of 27 BD patients and 71 controls were determined for IL-1ra variable number of tandem repeat polymorphisms (for five different alleles) by PCR. χ²-analysis was used to compare the allele and genotype frequencies of patients and controls. Results: There was no difference in the allele or genotype frequencies of IL-1ra between patients with BD and the controls (P＞0.05). The 2/2 genotype of IL-1ra polymorphisms was identified as an increased risk of BD with uveitis(OR=3.3).No association was produced for other investigated polymorphisms in the genotype or allele frequencies of IL-1ra between the BD patients or BD patients with uveitis and the control. Conclusion： Susceptibility to BD with uveitis is enhanced in individuals carrying the 2/2 genotype of IL-1ra polymorphisms.

Key words: Behcet′s syndrome, Uveitis, Interleukin-1, Genotype