Abstract

ABSTRACT Background: Rheumatic fever (RF) is an inflammatory disease of the heart after a pharyngitis by Group-A beta haemolytic streptococci. The pathogenetic mechanisms highlight a complex interplay of immunological, genetic and environmental factors. Immunity gene polymorphisms, in relation to susceptibility to RF, have been studied by many investigators, and IL-1 α has been the focus of attention. Aims & Objectives: To investigate the association of ILI- α 889C/T, gene polymorphism with clinical outcomes of rheumatic heart disease.
Materials and Methods: A cohort of 157 patients of established rheumatic heart disease and 200 controls (HS) were enrolled. Genotyping was done for all cases and controls regarding IL-1 α gene.
Results: 58.6% of RHD patients had ILI- α 889T allele, as compared to 49.5% for HC and was not statistically significant (P=0.087;OR=1.4[0.9-2.3]). Frequency of ILI- α 889T allele (64.1%) was higher in cases with history of rheumatic fever compared to HC (49.5%), with statistical significance (P=0.028; OR=1.8 [1.03-3.24]). ILI- α 889C/T gene polymorphism did not show statistically significant relationship with either mitral valve lesion (MiVL) (P=0.252; OR=1.3 [0.80-2.15]), mitral valve lesion along with other a valve lesion (MiVL ) (P=0.99;OR=1.4[0.91-2.25]), Aortic valve lesion (AoVL) [Fisher exact, P=0.72] or Multiple valve lesion (MVL) (P=0.086; OR=1.8 [0.86-4.17], or AF (P=0.329; OR=0.73 [0.37-1.44]). Conclusion: ILI- α 889C/T polymorphism of the ILI- α gene is not significantly associated with RHD, development of valve lesions or AF, but is significantly associated with history of RF.