[Relationship between tumor necrosis factor beta gene polymorphism and acute respiratory distress syndrome after operation for esophageal carcinoma].

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE A single nucleotide polymorphism of the tumor necrosis factor beta (TNF-beta) gene affected the level of tumor necrosis factor beta and was associated with prognosis of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). This study was to investigate the association between the TNF-beta and ARDS after operation for esophageal carcinoma. METHODS Thirty-four patients with and 116 patients without ARDS after radical resection for thoracotomic esophageal carcinoma were recruited in the Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University from January 2005 to June 2007. Peripheral blood samples were collected and DNA extracted. TNF-beta genotype was determined by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RPLF). RESULTS There was no significant difference between the two groups in the TNF-beta genotype and allele frequency (P>0.05). The time of mechanical ventilation was shorter and that of staying in the intensive care unit was longer for ARDS patients with the 1/2 genotype in the TNF-beta than for those with other genotypes (both P<0.05). The frequency of the 1/1 genotype and 1 allele in the TNF-beta was significantly higher in the group of surviving patients with ARDS than in the group of death patients. The odd ratios for mortality of two groups were 16.5 and 11.2, respectively. CONCLUSIONS TNF-beta did not appear to be a contributing factor influencing the morbidity of the patients with ARDS after operation for esophageal carcinoma, however, it might affect the development and prognosis of ARDS.