AIM: To determine the influence of interleukin-1?(IL-1?) and ?(IL-1?) gene polymorphisms on rheumatoid arthritis(RA) disease severity and secretion of IL-1?. METHODS: The study included 136 RA patients and 102 healthy controls. PCR-RFLP was used to detect site mutation at IL-1 gene. Meanwhile the IL-1? was also measured in the supernatant of the cultured and stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMC). RESULTS: No difference in the allele frequencies or genotypes of the IL-1? gene polymorphisms was found between the controls and RA patients.IL-1? allele 2 was overrepresented in patients with erosive RA but not in nonerosive patients. The patients with IL-1? allele 2 had a higher swollen joint index, higher tender joint index and erythrocyte sedimentation rate than those without IL-1? allele 2.The IL-1? in supernatant of stimulated PBMC from patients with IL-1? allele 2 had a higher level than that from those without allele 2. CONCLUSION: IL-1 gene polymorphisms may influence the occurrence of RA. Detection of IL-1? allele 2 have a potential prognostic value in RA.