Lack of association between the IL1A gene (-889) polymorphism and outcome after head injury.
BACKGROUND
Interleukin (IL) 1 is a proinflammatory cytokine that has been identified as an important mediator of neurodegeneration induced by ischemia or traumatic brain injury. Accumulating evidence to date has suggested that the major cytokine contributing to neurodegeneration after head injury is IL-1beta rather than IL-1alpha; however, there is no sufficient data regarding IL-1alpha in literature, and there may be an association between IL1A gene polymorphism and outcome after head injury.


METHODS
We performed a prospective clinical study and included a recruited series of 71 patients who had head injury and were admitted to our neurosurgical unit. Severity of initial injury was assessed by the Glasgow Coma Scale. Outcome at 6 months after injury was assessed by means of the Glasgow Outcome Score. Interleukin 1alpha genotypes were determined from blood samples by standard methods.


RESULTS
Of 40 patients with IL1A*2, 18 (45%) had an unfavorable outcome (dead, vegetative state, or severe disability) compared with 7 (22.5%) of 31 without IL1A*2 (P = .08).


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings show that there is no genetic association between IL1A gene polymorphism and outcome after head injury. Further clinical studies should be designed to confirm and further evaluate these findings.
Tanriverdi
Taner
T
Department of Neurosurgery, Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.
Uzan
Mustafa
M
Sanus
Galip Zihni
GZ
Baykara
Onur
O
Is
Merih
M
Ozkara
Cigdem
C
Buyra
Nur
N
D000328:Adult; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000235:genetics* / Q000401:mortality*; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D018458:Persistent Vegetative State / Q000235:genetics / Q000401:mortality; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011446:Prospective Studies
D007375:Interleukin-1