Polymorphisms in Inflammatory Genes are Associated with Term Small for Gestational Age and Preeclampsia

Problem Inflammatory biomarkers are associated with preeclampsia ( PE ) and poor fetal growth; however, genetic epidemiologic studies have been limited by reduced gene coverage and the exclusion of A frican A merican mothers. Method of study Cases and controls ( N  = 1646) from a pregnancy cohort were genotyped for 503 tag SNP s in 40 genes related to inflammation. Gene‐set analyses were stratified by race and were followed by a single SNP analysis within significant gene sets. Results Gene‐level associations were found for IL 6 and KLRD 1 for term small for gestational age ( SGA ) among African Americans. LTA / TNF and TBX 21 were associated with PE among European Americans. The strongest association was for PE among European Americans for an upstream regulator of TNF with RR  = 1.8 (95% CI 1.1–2.7). Conclusion Although previous studies have suggested null associations, increased tagging and stratification by genetic ancestry suggests important associations between IL 6 and term SGA for African Americans, and a TNF regulator and PE among European Americans ( N  = 149).