Genomic polymorphic profiles in an Irish population with meningococcaemia: is it possible to predict severity and outcome of disease?

Patients with meningococcal disease have increased plasma levels of proinflammatory cytokines IL-6, IL-1beta, and TNF-alpha, with higher levels associated with fatal outcome. This study investigated whether polymorphisms in genes encoding these cytokines, and in those encoding anti-inflammatory IL-10 and IL-1Ra, are associated with the outcome in patients with meningococcal disease. Seven polymorphisms were genotyped in 183 meningococcal disease patients and 389 controls. The IL-6 - 174 G/G and IL-10 - 1082 A/A genotypes were more frequent in nonsurvivors compared with survivors (P = 0.023 IL-6, 0.25 IL-10), and in patients with severe disease compared to those with mild disease (P = 0.037 IL-6, 0.0078 IL-10). An association was also found between meningococcal disease and the IL-1RN VNTR polymorphism, but no association was observed with the LTA + 252, TNF - 308, IL-10 - 592, or IL-1B + 3953 polymorphisms. We conclude that genetic variability in the IL-6, IL-10, and IL-1RN genes is associated with a poor outcome in meningococcal disease.