Interleukin-6 G(--174)C polymorphism is associated with mental retardation in cystic periventricular leucomalacia in preterm infants.
OBJECTIVE
The fetal inflammatory response syndrome involving proinflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-6 (IL-6) has been associated with cystic periventricular leukomalacia (cPVL). We evaluated whether the development of cPVL is associated with the IL-6 G(-174)C polymorphism.


METHODS
52 children with cPVL were compared to 46 preterm and 395 term controls using retrospective cohort analysis. IL-6 genotyping was performed using an allele specific polymerase chain reaction technique.


RESULTS
IL-6 G(-174)C polymorphisms did not differ between groups, but an association between mental retardation and the IL-6 C/C (78%) and G/C (43%) genotypes compared to the G/G (25%) genotype was found (p = 0.003 and 0.043, respectively; RR 3.11 (95% CI 1.54 to 6.29) and 1.79 (95% CI 1.10 to 2.92), respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
The IL-6 (-174) C/C and G/C genotypes were associated with mental retardation in cPVL and seem to modify the severity of perinatal brain injury.
Resch
B
B
Department of Paediatrics, Medical University of Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 30, Graz A-8036, Austria. bernhard.resch@meduni-graz.at
Radinger
A
A
Mannhalter
C
C
Binder
A
A
Haas
J
J
Müller
W D
WD
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000235:genetics*; D007969:Leukomalacia, Periventricular / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
D015850:Interleukin-6