Association between IL-6–174 (G/C) polymorphism and cystic periventricular leukomalacia in preterm infants

Background: The fetal inflammatory response syndrome plays a central role in the pathogenesis of white matter damage, i.e. cystic periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) in the preterm infant. High levels of proinflammatory cytokines including interleukin-6 (IL-6) have been observed in autopsies of brains of these infants. Thus, an association between IL-6–174 (G/C) polymorphism, affecting IL-6 transcription rate and plasma cytokine levels, and development of PVL might be hypothesized. Patients and methods: The study group (cases) compromised infants with diagnosis of cystic PVL out of a single centre cohort from 198…