Replication of association of nine susceptibility loci with Graves' disease in the Chinese Han population.

This study is to evaluate the association of 9 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with Graves’ disease (GD) in different homogenous samples of the Chinese Han population. A total of 2,865 unrelated individuals were enrolled from Linyi City, Shandong Province, China, including 1,139 patients of GD and 1,726 controls. All 9 SNPs showed significant associations with GD (P 0.15). Four SNPs located in MHC regions were significantly associated with GD in different ages (P 0.02, Pc > 0.18). The rs6457617 at the HLA-DR-DQ locus was significantly correlated with gender in GD patients (P=0.004, Pc=0.04). No significant correlation was found between any SNP and age of diagnosis in GD patients (P > 0.02, Pc > 0.17). The 9 previously identified SNPs are associated with GD in the Chinese Han population. And, gender and age may not influence the associations between the 9 SNPs and GD.