[Correlation between -31 T/C polymorphisms of 
interleukin-1β gene and Kawasaki disease]

To explore the correlation between the -31T/C polymorphisms of IL-1β gene and thesusceptibility of Kawasaki disease (KD).
 Methods: The polymorphism at -31C/T site of IL-1β gene was genotyped with the method of polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) in 100 KD patients (KD group) and 100 healthy children (control group). The differences in genotype distribution and allele frequency between the KD group and the control group were analyzed by χ2 test.
 Results: There were significant differences in genotype and allele frequencies for IL-1β gene polymorphism at -31C/T site between the KD group and the control group (all P<0.05). The risk of KD in the KD group with TT genotype was 0.37 times as that with the CT and CC genotypes (χ2=5.65, P<0.005, OR=0.37, 95%CI 0.16 to 0.85). But there was no significant difference in genotype and allele frequencies for IL-1β genepolymorphism at -31 site between the KD group with coronary artery lesion and the KD group without coronary artery lesion(all P>0.05).
 Conclusion: The polymorphism at -31T/C site of IL-1β gene is associated with genetic susceptibility of KD. The KD patients with TT genotype are at low risk.