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Polymorphism in the Tumor Necrosis Factor-α Gene in Women with Preeclampsia

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Abstract

Purpose : We determined whether genetic variability in the gene encoding for tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) contributes to individual differences in susceptibility to the development of preeclampsia.

Methods : The study involved 133 preeclamptic and 115 healthy control pregnant women who were genotyped for C-850T polymorphism in the TNF-α gene promoter. Chi-square analysis was used to assess genotype and allele frequency differences between preeclamptic women and controls.

Results : A significantly different genotype distribution of C-850T polymorphism was observed between the two groups, with the frequency of the variant T allele being significantly reduced in the preeclamptic group (4.5%) when compared with the control group (9.6%) (P = 0.03; OR = 0.45, 95% CI = 0.22–0.92). Accordingly, the odds ratio for preeclampsia associated with the pooled TT and CT genotypes was 0.367 (P = 0.02; 95% CI = 0.159–0.847).

Conclusions : The T allele of the TNF-α gene may modify individual preeclampsia risk, being protective against the development of the complication.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kuopio University Hospital, 70211, Kuopio, Finland

    Jaana Heiskanen & Seppo Heinonen

  2. Department of Clinical Chemistry, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland

    Eeva-Liisa Romppanen & Kari Punnonen

  3. Department of Neurology, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland

    Mikko Hiltunen & Susan Iivonen

  4. Department of Clinical Genetics, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland

    Mikko Hiltunen, Susan Iivonen & Arto Mannermaa

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  1. Jaana Heiskanen
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  2. Eeva-Liisa Romppanen
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  3. Mikko Hiltunen
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  4. Susan Iivonen
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  5. Arto Mannermaa
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  6. Kari Punnonen
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  7. Seppo Heinonen
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Correspondence to Seppo Heinonen.

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Heiskanen, J., Romppanen, EL., Hiltunen, M. et al. Polymorphism in the Tumor Necrosis Factor-α Gene in Women with Preeclampsia. J Assist Reprod Genet 19, 220–223 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1015306818507

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