The Role of Interleukin-4 VNTR Polymorphism in Dysmenorrhea Development

Abstract

Aim: Primary dysmenorrhea (PD) is among the most common gynecological diseases in young women presenting to emergency department. It has been shown that cytokines played roles in PD pathogenesis. Interleukin-4 (IL-4), a cytokine, regulates multiple biological functions. The objective of the present study was to examine possible relationship between IL-4 variable number of tandem repeat (VNTR) polymorphism and susceptibility to PD. Methods: This study was based on a prospective cohort study design. A total of 120 patients with PD and 116 healthy controls, who presented to the emergency department between 01.12.2018 and 01.12.2019, were included in the study. IL-4 VNTR was genotyped by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The results of the analyses were evaluated in terms of statistically significant differences. Results: The prevalence of genotypes of P1/P1, P1/P2, and P2/ P2 for IL-4 VNTR were 1.72%, 34.4%, and 63.7% in patients with PD, and 0.8%, 26.6%, and 72.5% in controls, respectively. There was no significant difference in distribution of genotypes and allele frequencies of IL-4 VNTR between the groups (p>0.05). Conclusion: This research is the first study to examine the relationship between IL-4 VNTR and PD. The data of the present study did not support a relationship between IL-4 VNTR and PD risk.