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.

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.