TNF-238 polymorphism may predict bronchopulmonary dysplasia among preterm infants in the Egyptian population.

Summary. Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) remains as a major and increasing burden in Egypt. Rationale: To determine whether alleles of TNFa-238G > A affect the risk of BPD or the severity of BPD in preterm infants in Egypt. Study Design: We prospectively genotyped 220 premature neonates (birth weight A polymorphism was associated with a twofold risk of BPD (OR ¼ 2.86; 95% confidence interval, 1.35–3.83). Despite the dominance of the G allele in the Egyptian population, the � 238A allele was more common among infants with BPD (23%) than among infants without BPD (15%). The A allele occurred less often in infants with mild BPD (9%) than in infants with severe (39%) or moderate (52%). The AA genotype occurred in 15% of cases but in none of the controls. Conclusion: The TNFa � 238G > A polymorphism— particularly the presence of an A allele—should be evaluated as a biomarker to predict the clinical outcome of preterm infants with BPD in Egypt. Even the presence of one copy of this mutant allele appears to be sufficient to influence the severity of disease. Pediatr Pulmonol.