Polymorphisms within the interleukin-1 beta gene cluster and preeclampsia.
OBJECTIVE
To identify associations between polymorphisms within the interleukin-1 beta gene cluster, all of which increase protein expression, and preeclampsia.


METHODS
We genotyped a Hispanic population (69 women with preeclampsia and 47 controls) for two polymorphisms of the interleukin-1 beta gene (promoter region and exon 5) and one polymorphism of the interleukin-1 receptor antagonist gene in intron 2. Clinical data were collected from medical records. Values are given as means or medians. Statistical power to identify a difference in occurrence of interleukin-1 beta promoter, interleukin-1 beta exon 5, and interleukin-1 receptor antagonist gene polymorphisms in women with preeclampsia compared with controls was 21%, 15.9%, and 30.9%, respectively.


RESULTS
We found no association between any single polymorphism and occurrence of preeclampsia. Among women with preeclampsia, those with polymorphism of interleukin-1 receptor antagonist gene had higher mean systolic blood pressure (BP) at admission (178 +/- 33.4 versus 159 +/- 19.5 mmHg, P =.039). When all three polymorphisms combined were evaluated, women with preeclampsia and at least three mutant alleles (n = 8) had higher mean systolic BP at admission (182 +/- 30 versus 160 +/- 20.5 mmHg, P =.009) and increased alanine aminotransferase (67 [10--1024] versus 20 [3--407] IU/L, P =.04) and aspartate aminotransferase (119 [25--2239] versus 24 [4--489] IU/L, P =.002). At admission, BP in controls was independent of any polymorphism identified.


CONCLUSIONS
Although the power of this study was limited, our data do not support a role for polymorphisms of the interleukin-1 beta and interleukin-1 receptor antagonist genes in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia among Hispanic women. Our findings do suggest that polymorphisms within the gene cluster might influence severity of preeclampsia.
Hefler
L A
LA
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA.
Tempfer
C B
CB
Gregg
A R
AR
D000328:Adult; D001483:Base Sequence; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D005260:Female; D005819:Genetic Markers; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D005810:Multigene Family; D016017:Odds Ratio; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D012016:Reference Values; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D005819:Genetic Markers; D007375:Interleukin-1