Genetic susceptibility in childhood tuberculosis

Genetic Susceptibility ın Childhood Tuberculosis Aim: In this study, we aimed to determine genetic susceptibility of patient group including cases aged between 0-18 years who are under follow up at outpatient and inpatient clinics with the diagnosis of pediatric tuberculosis according to healthy control group. Materials and Methods: Patient group consists of 50 cases aged between 0-18 years who are under follow up at outpatient and inpatient clinics with the diagnosis of pediatric tuberculosis between 1996-2009 in Çukurova University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics and the control group consists of 50 healthy cases aged between 0-18 years who have neither chronic nor acute diseases and have no history of tuberculosis contact. Blood samples were taken from patient and control group cases and were sent to Çukurova University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Biology for analyses of NRAMP1 and MBL genetic polimorphisms. The statistical analysis was made at Çukurova University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Biostatistic. Results: There was no significant difference of NRAMP1 gen frequency polimorphisms of D543N, 3'-UTR and INT4 polimorphisms between patient and control group statistically (p>0.05). There was no significant difference of MBL gen frequency polimorphisms of CODON 54 and CODON 57 polimorphisms between patient and control group statistically (p>0.05). By this findings highlight; datas refer no significant statistical differences of NRAMP1 and MBL gen frequency polimorphisms between patient and control group in this study. Conclusion: In this study, no significant differences have been found for NRAMP1 and MBL gen frequency polimorphisms between patient and control group. Positive results in other similar studies in the literature may reflect difference of the width of distribution of case number or socioeconomical, racial, environmental and geographical factors. In this respect; it is necessary to increase number of cases and to specify the other parameters. Keywords: Pediatric tuberculosis, genetic susceptibility.