Interleukin-6-174-genotype, sepsis and cerebral injury in very low birth weight infants

Area of Science:

• Genetics
• Neonatology
• Perinatal Medicine

Background:

• The interleukin 6 (IL-6) -174 genotype has been previously associated with increased susceptibility to sepsis (IL-6-174GG) and severe intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) (IL-6-174CC) in preterm infants.
• However, these associations require further investigation in larger cohorts.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between the IL-6 -174 genotype and unfavorable outcomes in preterm infants.
• To determine if IL-6 -174 genotypes influence the risk of sepsis, severe IVH, periventricular leukomalacia, or death in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants.

Main Methods:

• A cohort study involving 1206 preterm infants with a birth weight below 1500 g.
• Genotyping for the IL-6 -174 polymorphism (GG, GC, CC).
• Analysis of the incidence of IVH grade IV, periventricular leukomalacia, ventricular-peritoneal-shunting, death, and blood-culture-proven sepsis in relation to IL-6 genotypes.

Main Results:

• No significant differences in the frequency of severe IVH, periventricular leukomalacia, need for ventricular-peritoneal-shunting, or mortality were observed among infants with different IL-6 -174 genotypes (GG: 8%, GC: 9%, CC: 12%; P = 0.2).
• The study did not confirm a previously reported association between the IL-6-174GG genotype and an increased risk of sepsis.
• Sepsis incidence was similar across genotypes: 19% for GG, 26% for GC, and 27% for CC carriers.

Conclusions:

• The IL-6 -174 genotype is not associated with adverse outcomes such as sepsis or severe cerebral injury in very low birth weight infants.
• Previously reported associations between IL-6 -174 genotype and sepsis or cerebral injury in VLBW infants were not confirmed in this study.