Frequency of NOD2/CARD15 variants in both sporadic and familial cases of Crohn's disease across Italy. An Italian Group for Inflammatory Bowel Disease Study.

Abstract Background. Three variants of the NOD 2 /CARD 15 gene are strongly associated with susceptibility to Crohn’s disease; however, striking racial and geographic differences of their frequency have been described. Aims. We have compared the allele frequencies of familial cases of Crohn’s disease recruited in a multicentre study across Italy, in order to disclose possible geographic heterogeneity. Moreover, we also compared the allele frequencies in sporadic cases of Crohn’s disease and healthy controls from Southern Italy with those reported in other two populations from Central and Northern Italy. Subjects and Methods. A total of 731 subjects were genotyped for the polymorphism of thr…