Interleukin 6 promoter 174 G/C polymorphisms in acute ischemic stroke: G allele is protective but not associated with IL-6 levels or stroke outcome

•IL6 174G/C promoter polymorphisms and IL6 levels were measured in stroke patients and controls.•IL6 levels were increased after stroke.•Reduction in frequency of G alleles in stroke patients•No association of genotype with IL6 levels or stroke outcome

Our study investigated the frequency of interleukin-6 (IL-6) promoter polymorphism rs1800795 (−174 G > C), possible association of this polymorphism with IL-6 levels and the outcome after stroke in 95 patients with acute ischemic stroke and 268 healthy subjects. It shows a significant reduction in the frequency of G alleles in stroke patients compared to healthy controls. Carriage of G allele is not associated with stroke subtypes, the initial severity or the outcome after stroke. The −174 polymorphisms were not associated with variation in IL-6 levels post-stroke. Our results indicate that IL-6 promoter −174 polymorphisms may play a role in susceptibility to stroke, but not stroke outcome.

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