RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To study the relationship between sepsis and a 4G/5G polymorphism within the promoter region of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) gene in the Han nationality. METHODS: Peripheral blood sample were collected from 89 patients with severe sepsis, 58 males and 31 females, aged 56, with a APHCHII score of 22.5 +/- 2.1 and a mortality of 51%, and 100 sex and age-matched postoperative patients without severe sepsis, all of the Han nationality. 4G/5G polymorphism of PAI-1 gene was determined using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) followed by restriction enzyme analysis. RESULTS: The carrier rate of 4G/4G genotype among the sepsis patients was 0.44, significantly higher than that among the controls (0.25, P < 0.01). The 4G allele frequency of the sepsis patients was 0.65, significantly higher than that of the controls (0.54, P < 0.05). The carrier rate of 4G/4G genotype among the non-survivors in the sepsis group was 0.54; significantly higher than that among the survivors (0.34, P < 0.05); and the 4G allele rate in the non-survivors was 70%, not significantly different from that of the survivors (59%, P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: PAI-1 4G/5G polymorphism is associated with the susceptibility and outcome of severe sepsis, 4G/4G genotype and 4G allele may be genetic risk factors of severe sepsis.