Objective: To investigate the association between IL-18 polymorphisms and Tuberculosis(TB).
Materials and methods: We searched PubMed and Embase databases, and conducted a meta-analysis using 4 models. Data
were extracted from the studies by two independent reviewers. Statistical analysis was performed using STATA 12.0 software.
Results: Five qualified studies with a total of 1293 TB patients and 1724 controls were included.There was no significant association between the IL-18 -607C>A polymorphism and TB risk in the total population(AA vs CC: OR=1.27,95% CI=0.82-1.96;-CA vs CC:OR=1.06,95% CI=0.89-1.26; Dominant model: OR =1.09, 95% CI =0.83-1.43; Recessive model:OR=1.23, 95%
CI=0.92-1.65).For IL-18 -137G>C polymorphism, lack of an association was also found(GG vs CC: OR=1.42,95% CI=0.78-2.58;GC vs CC:OR=1.16,95% CI=0.62-2.16; Dominant model: OR =1.34,95% CI=0.74-2.43;Recessive model:OR=0.96,95%-
CI=0.26-3.56).
Conclusion: The present meta-analysis found no evidence for IL-18 -607C>A and -137G>C polymorphisms as risk factors for
TB. Further large-scale and well-designed articles are still needed to validate this result.
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/ahs.v19i1.2
Cite as: Zhen L-B, Sun Y-P, Chen Y-Y, Yin L-S. IL-18 polymorphisms and tuberculosis susceptibility: a meta-analysis. Afri Health Sci.
2019;19(1): 1311-1320. https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/ahs.v19i1.2 
