IL-6 Gene Polymorphism and Atherosclerosis in Overweight Kidney Transplant Patients
Author Information
Author(s): Bamoulid Jamal, Courivaud Cécile, Deschamps Marina, Gaugler Béatrice, Tiberghien Pierre, Chalopin Jean-Marc, Saas Philippe, Ducloux Didier
Primary Institution: INSERM, UMR645, Besançon, France
Hypothesis
Combining overweight and a greater genetic capacity to produce IL-6 predicted by IL-6 gene promoter polymorphism at position -174 (G→C) may allow to identify individuals exhibiting higher IL-6 and C-reactive protein concentrations with a higher risk of atherosclerotic events.
Conclusion
The GG genotype of the IL-6 gene promoter -174 is an independent risk factor for atherosclerotic events in overweight transplanted patients.
Supporting Evidence
- Circulating IL-6 concentrations were closely related to BMI.
- Overweight GG patients had higher CRP levels than other categories of patients.
- The incidence of atherosclerotic events was higher in overweight GG patients.
Takeaway
This study found that overweight kidney transplant patients with a specific gene variant are more likely to have heart problems.
Methodology
The study analyzed two cohorts of renal transplant recipients to assess the relationship between IL-6 gene polymorphism and atherosclerotic events.
Potential Biases
Survival bias could not be totally excluded due to the nature of patient selection.
Limitations
A selection bias is likely in the retrospective study, and the results may not be applicable to diabetic patients.
Participant Demographics
Mean age was 45 years, with 64% men in the retrospective cohort and 65% men in the prospective cohort.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.0003
Confidence Interval
[95% CI 1.33–7.13]
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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