Common variants in the NOD2 gene are associated with elevated IL-8 levels and ascitic decompensation in patients with advanced liver cirrhosis

Introduction: Recently we reported an association of common variants (p.R702W, p.G908R and c.3020insC) in the nucleotide-binding oligomerisation domain containing 2 (NOD2) gene with the occurrence of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis and survival in cirrhosis (Appenrodt et al. Hepatology 2010; epub). Our aim now was to confirm these findings in an independent sample of patients with advanced cirrhosis, who we studied previously for the association of soluble tumor necrosis factor receptors (sTNF-R) 55 and 75 levels and survival (Grünhage et al. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol 2008;6:1255–62). Patients and methods: A…