B cell activating factor gene polymorphisms in patients with risk of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura

B cell activating factor (BAFF) is a ligand belonging to the tumor necrosis factor family and has an important role in B cells development, survival, and immunoglobulin-production. This study was aimed to study the association between haplotypes in the 5' regulatory region of the BAFF gene and susceptibility to idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP).

BAFF gene polymorphisms expression at positions (-871C>T, -2701 T>A and -2841T>C) of 5' regulatory region were determined with polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism technique in 40 chronic (ITP) patients and in 50 age- and sex-matched normal volunteers as a control group.

The difference between chronic ITP patients and control subjects as regards -871C>T polymorphism expression was highly statistically significant with higher expression of T allele in ITP patients than control group (P < 0.001). However, the other 2 polymorphisms did not show significant difference between the 2 groups. -871C>T polymorphism was associated with increased risk of chronic ITP with an odds ratio 18.857; however, the other 2 polymorphisms were not associated with an equivalent effect.

-871C>T BAFF gene polymorphism expression had a significant association with chronic ITP disease.