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Polymorphisms in the interleukin-1 gene cluster in children and young adults with systemic meningococcemia

, , , , , , , , , and . Clinical Chemistry, 52 (3): 511--4 (March 2006)PMID: 16510430.
DOI: 10.1373/clinchem.2005.058537

Abstract

BACKGROUND: An association has been described between mortality in children with meningococcal disease and functional polymorphisms in the interleukin-1 (IL1) cluster. We undertook a multicenter study to evaluate associations of these polymorphisms in a Central European population. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study involved 95 Middle European pediatric hospitals. We collected blood samples from, and clinical information about, 285 previously healthy children with meningococcal infection. We used a newly developed multiplexed mutagenic separated PCR assay to analyze 6 polymorphisms within the IL1 cluster: IL1A (-889)C/T, IL1A (+4845)G/T, IL1B (-511)C/T, IL1B (-31)C/T, IL1B (+3954), and IL1RA (+2018)C/T. We studied the same polymorphisms in a comparison group of 481 healthy newborns. RESULTS: Genotype frequencies between patients and the comparison group differed significantly only for the IL1RA (+2018)C/T variant: The CC genotype was more frequent in patients (11\%) than in healthy controls (5\%; P = 0.008). In the patient group, the C allele was significantly more prevalent (67\%) in nonsurvivors than in survivors (42\%; P = 0.02). CONCLUSION: The IL1RA (+2018)C/T polymorphism is associated with the risk of meningococcal disease and with its outcome.

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