Objective: The functional variant C77G (rs17612648) of PTPRC (CD45) was described to confer risk for systemic sclerosis (SSc) in German Caucasians. We analyzed this association in an independent, larger German cohort.
Methods: We genotyped 171 cases and 179 controls. Cases were subgrouped according to sex, autoantibody profiles, or clinical subsets.
Results: No association of SSc with C77G was detected in the whole dataset, in subgroups, or in combined analyses with a previous study.
Conclusion: The results do not confirm PTPRC C77G as a general and independent risk factor for development of SSc.