4G4G genotype of the plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 promoter polymorphism associates with disseminated intravascular coagulation in children with systemic meningococcemia

Background: Meningococcal disease may present as sepsis, meningitis or a combination of both. Impaired fibrinolysis and massive elevation of the plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) is a characteristic feature of meningococcal sepsis. We and others have reported an association between mortality and the functional 4G/5G promoter polymorphism of the PAI-1 gene in children with meningococcal sepsis. Objective: Multicenter study to investigate the association of the 4G/5G PAI-1 polymorphism and disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) in children with meningococcal disease in a Central European population. Patients/Methods: Blood samples and clinical information of 326 previously healthy children with meningococcal infection were collected from 95 pediatric hospitals in Germany, Switzerland, Italy, and Austria from 2000 to 2002. Results: DIC, defined as platelet counts below 100GL^-1, increased D-dimer levels and prolonged prothrombin time, was significantly associated with the 4G4G genotype [31 of 63 (49%) vs. 55 of 175 (31%), P = 0.014], resulting in a hazard ratio (HR) of 1.5 (95% confidence interval 1.1-2.1) to develop DIC. Carriers of the 4G4G genotype showed significantly lower platelet counts (183GL^-1 vs. 227GL^-1, P = 0.009) on admission. Fibrinogen and C-reactive protein levels were not associated with the PAI-1 4G/5G polymorphism, nor were white blood cell counts. Conclusions: Our data show a correlation between the 4G4G genotype of the PAI-1 gene and development of DIC in meningococcal infection.