An A>G polymorphism at position −670 in the Fas (TNFRSF6) gene in pregnant women with pre-eclampsia and intrauterine growth restriction

Fas-mediated apoptosis of maternal lymphocytes during pregnancy has been postulated to prevent the development of pre-eclampsia. A single adenine (A) to guanine (G) polymorphism at position 2 670 in the Fas gene (TNFRSF6) results in decreased Fas synthesis. The association between this polymorphism and pre-eclampsia in Hungarian women was investigated. In a case –control study, buccal swabs from 38 pregnant women with pre-eclampsia and 89 normotensive controls were analysed for the TNFRSF62670 polymorphism. Investigators were blinded to clinical outcomes. Maternal homozygosity for the TNFRSF62670*A occurred in 33 (37.1%) normotensive pregnant women as compared to only 5 (16.1%) of 31 pre-eclamptic pregnant women who delivered at