Association of Tumor Necrosis Factor-α (-G308A) Polymorphism with risk of Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding from Schistosomiasis in Pernambuco.

Background: We evaluated the association between polymorphisms in the tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) (-G308A) gene and upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) in schistosomiasis.

Methods: This was a transverse study involving 294 Brazilian patients infected with Schistosoma mansoni.

Results: The homozygous A/A genotype in TNF-α (-G308A) showed a risk association (prevalence ratio = 1.90, p = 0.008) with UGIB. There was no statistically significant difference in serum TNF-α levels between the clinical groups.

Conclusions: The polymorphic TNF-α (-G308A) can be a risk factor for UGIB, in addition to being a potentially predictive factor for the severity of UGIB in schistosomiasis.