OBJECTIVETo study the relationship between the polymorphism myeloperoxidase (MPO) gene and the genetic susceptibility to benzene toxicity in workers exposed to benzene and in patients with benzene poisoning.

METHODSUsing polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphisms (PCR-RFLP) techniques, the genotypes' polymorphism of MPO gene in 35 patients with chronic benzene poisoning, 46 workers exposed to benzene from the same workplace (as exposed control) and 26 controls were analyzed.

RESULTThere were three (G/G, G/A and A/A) genotypes in the region of 463 bp upstream of MPO gene. The distribution frequency in G/G wild-type genotype in patients was 27.4% more than that in the exposed workers. The risk of benzene-hematotoxicity in those with G/G genotype was 2.8-fold higher than G/A + A/A genotype (OR = 2.835, 95% CI: 1.065 - 7.549, P < 0.05). The polymorphism of myeloperoxidase was not associated with gender specific.

CONCLUSIONIn the same benzene-exposed environment, the subjects with MPO-463 G/G genotype may be more susceptible to benzene toxicity.