Association of Glutathione Transferase M1, T1, P1 and A1 Gene Polymorphism and Susceptibility to IgA Vasculitis

Endothelial cell injury is a hallmark of IgA vasculitis (IgAV), possibly associated with various factors, including oxidative stress. Certain single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of glutathione S-transferases () genes have been shown to increase susceptibility to oxidative stress. The objective of our study was to evaluate the gene polymorphisms of , , and in patients with IgAV. DNA was extracted from the blood of 124 children with IgAV and 168 age-matched healthy controls. A higher frequency of the null genotype was observed in patients with gastrointestinal (GI) system involvement compared to those without GI system involvement (51.5% vs. 28.6%, = 0.011). Additionally, the null genotype was less prevalent (30.8% vs. 69.2%, = 0.032), while the Val/Val genotype was significantly more prevalent in patients who developed urogenital complications (scrotal swelling) during the course of the disease (60% vs. 40%, = 0.039). This study is the first to suggest an association between and polymorphisms and various phenotypes observed during the clinical course of IgAV in the pediatric population. However, it was performed on a national and likely single ethnic cohort, too small for definitive conclusions, so larger studies are needed to confirm this association.