title: IL-6 polymorphism associated with fatal outcome in patients with severe traumatic brain injury.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to test whether a functional polymorphism (-174C/G) located in the promoter region of the interleukin-6 (IL-6) gene is associated with primary short-term outcome (death or Intensive Care Unit discharge) in patients with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI).
  
  
  METHODS
  The study group consisted of 77 male patients who suffered severe TBI. The -174C/G IL-6 polymorphism was analysed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) followed by restriction digestion.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Severe TBI was associated with a 44% mortality rate. The GG genotype was significantly more frequent in the survivor group than in non-surviving patients (67% vs 41%; p =?0.038); similarly, the IL-6 -174G allele was more frequent in the survivor group than in non-surviving patients (81% vs 65%; p =0.031).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings indicate that genetic variation regarding inflammatory response has significant impact on the short-term outcome for patients after acute severe TBI.
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Genética e Toxicologia Aplicada, Universidade Luterana do Brasil (ULBRA), Canoas, Brazil.
authors.forename: André Luiz
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Dalla Libera
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Regner
authors.forename: Juliana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: de Paoli
authors.forename: Leonara
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Centenaro
authors.forename: Tatiane Tolazzi
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Martins
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Simon
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000235:genetics* / Q000401:mortality; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D023261:Glasgow Outcome Scale; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015850:Interleukin-6