Cytochrome P2 polymorphisms and susceptibility to scleroderma following exposure to organic solvents

Objective. To determine whether there are specific cytochrome P450 (CYP2) alleles that increase susceptibility to scleroderma in individuals who have been exposed to organic solvents. Methods. CYP alleles at 2 loci, 2E1 and 2C19, were compared in 7 patients who had developed scleroderma after exposure to solvents versus 71 patients with scleroderma without solvent exposure ("sporadic" disease) and 106 population controls. Results. The 2E1*3 allele was found in 2 of the 7 patients who had been exposed to organic solvents, with a greater frequency than occurred in either the disease controls or the population controls (odds ratio [95% confidence interval] 9.1 [1.5-59.1] and 10.2 [1.8-62.2], respectively). All 7 patients with solvent exposure carried the 2C19EM genotype, compared with 89% of patients with sporadic scleroderma. Conclusion. Our results suggest that alleles at CYP loci may be involved in increasing susceptibility to scleroderma among subjects who have been exposed to organic solvents.