Objectives: To establish a multiplex amplification refractory mutation system (ARMS) in fluid and dried whole blood, and to perform a pilot study to examine the role for single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of inflammation-associated genes (interleukin [IL]-1 and -10, tumor necrosis factor-alpha [TNFA], and toll-like receptor-4 [TLR4]) and their interaction with clinical chorioamnionitis (CAM) in prematurity.
Methods: We established a quadruplex ARMS to detect the four above SNPs. Fifty-four women delivered at gestational age less than 32 weeks and 83 healthy female volunteers were genotyped. We compared (1) mothers of preterm infants with volunteers, and (2) women delivered before 29 weeks' gestation (n = 29) with those delivered at 29 to 31 completed weeks (n = 25).
Results: Multiplex ARMS is feasible using both fluid and dried whole blood. We found no overall differences in genotype and allele frequencies between mothers of preterm infants and volunteers. Among women who had a preterm delivery, those with both CAM and IL10(-1082)*G allele, the risk for delivery before 29 weeks was markedly increased (odds ratio [OR] 22, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.5 - 191).
Conclusion: The presence of both CAM and IL10(-1082)*G might play a role in extreme preterm delivery less than 29 weeks.