Association of a common SNP in the complement factor 5 gene with severity of alcoholic liver cirrhosis

Introduction Progression of liver fibrosis to cirrhosis in alcoholic liver disease is determined by alcohol consumption, gender and genetic factors yet to be defined. We recently identified an association of two haplotype-tagging (ht) SNPs in the complement factor 5 (C5) gene with severity of liver fibrosis in hepatitis C patients and serum C5 levels. Activation of the complement system and induction of pro-inflammatory mechanisms that drive fibrogenesis may also contribute to fibrosis progression in alcoholic liver cirrhosis. We therefore tested whether C5 variants are associated with the stage of liver cirrhos…