Are postoperative complications genetically determined by TNF-beta NcoI gene polymorphism?
GROUND: Postoperative infectious complications are the leading causes for postoperative sepsis. In severe sepsis, tumor necrosis factor-beta (TNF-beta) NcoI polymorphism was associated with increased mortality. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine whether the biallelic NcoI polymorphism within the TNF locus is associated with the development of postoperative complications. METHODS: One hundred sixty patients were included in this prospective observation study. Patients undergoing major gastrointestinal surgery, such as esophagectomy, gastrectomy, Whipple operation, major liver resection, or colon resection were included. Patients were monitored during the clinical course, and postoperative complications, divided into severe and minor complications, were documented. The NcoI restriction fragment length polymorphism of the TNF-beta gene was determined by polymerase chain reaction; gene expression as well as complications were correlated. RESULTS: The patients’ genotype distr
