A number of published studies investigated the association between interleukin-1α (IL-1α) -899 (+4845) C→T polymorphism and susceptibility to aggressive periodontitis (AgP). However, the results from different studies are controversial. This study was conducted to further investigate the association between IL-1α -899 (+4845) C→T polymorphism and AgP using a meta-analysis. A search was conducted through PubMed up to May 1, 2013 and a total of 19 relevant case-control studies were identified. The results of this meta-analysis demonstrated that IL-1α -899 (+4845) C→T polymorphism is not associated with susceptibility to AgP under allele T vs. C [odds ratio (OR)=1.00, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.88-1.14, P=0.98; I2=28.86%] or allele A vs. C comparison (OR=0.99, 95% CI: 0.85-1.14, P=0.85; I2=33.66%). The subgroup analyses based on ethnicity, source of controls and Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE) also revealed no such association. There existed a weak publication bias (Egger's test P=0.02). In conclusion, based on the currently available evidence, there is no association between IL-1α -899 (+4845) C→T polymorphism and susceptibility to AgP.
Keywords: aggressive periodontitis; interleukin-1α; meta-analysis; polymorphism; susceptibility.