Is TNF-α gene polymorphism related to pulmonary functions and prognosis as determined by FEV1, BMI, COPD exacerbation and hospitalization in patients with smoking-related COPD in a Turkish population?

Introduction: Some conflicting results have been published about the relationship between TNF-308 gene polymorphism and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The aim of this study was to determine whether TNF--308 gene polymorphism was associated with smokingrelated COPD and whether it was associated with pulmonary function parameters (PFTs), body mass index (BMI), and prognosis. Methods: We studied the frequencies of TNF--308 gene polymorphism in 90 male subjects (60 subjects with COPD and 30 healthy smokers) in a Caucasian population. Results: There was no significant difference in the frequency of G/G and G/A gene polymorphisms in the COPD group compared with control subjects (p > 0.05). We compared COPD patients as G/A gene polymorphism and G/G gene polymorphism; the PFTs and BMI before and after one year were not statistically significant (p > 0.05). Also, the exacerbation and hospitalization data of COPD patients were not significant between these groups. Conclusion: In conclusion, there was no difference between smoking-related COPD and the control group according to TNF -308 gene polymorphism in a Caucasian population. In addition, it was shown that important determinants of prognosis of COPD such as FEV1, BMI, COPD exacerbation and hospitalization were not associated with TNF--308 gene polymorphism. © 2013 Sociedade Portuguesa de Pneumologia. Published by Elsevier Espana, S.L.U. All rights reserved.