The aim of the present study was to determine whether IL-6 polymorphisms
correlate with sepsis. According to the inclusion criteria, the
association of IL-6 polymorphisms with sepsis was searched in
databases and analysed using comprehensive meta-analysis software. A
total of 16 studies were included in this meta-analysis. There was no
significant association between the IL-6-174G/C polymorphism and
sepsis risk in the total population (C vs. G: OR = 1.04, 95%
CI = 0.79–1.38; CC vs. GG: OR = 0.86, 95% CI = 0.53–1.41; CG vs. GG:
OR = 0.99, 95% CI = 0.79–1.24; dominant model: OR = 0.97, 95%
CI = 0.74–1.29; recessive model: OR = 0.92, 95% CI = 0.61–1.39). When
patients were stratified according to ethnicity, a statistically
significant association was observed in Asians and Africans. As for
the -572G/C polymorphism, the results showed that the IL-6-572C/G
polymorphism was not associated with sepsis susceptibility (G vs. C:
OR = 0.98, 95% CI = 0.79–1.22; GG vs. CC: OR = 1.46, 95%
CI = 0.53–4.03; GC vs. CC: OR = 0.82, 95% CI = 0.54–1.27; dominant
model: OR = 0.88, 95% CI = 0.55–1.41; recessive model: OR = 1.55, 95%
CI = 0.82–2.92). The data indicated that the IL-6-174G/C polymorphism
may contribute to sepsis risk, especially in Africans and Asians. No
significant association was observed between the IL-6-572G/C
polymorphism and sepsis risk.