ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the relationship between genetic polymorphisms of glutathione S-transferase (GST) M1, T1 and susceptibility to mountain sickness.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Forty-three soldiers with acute mountain sickness and 80 healthy soldiers matching with sex/age and training under the same condition were divided into case group and control group. A multiple polymerase chain reaction method was used to detect GSTM1 and GSTT1 genes in genomic DNA isolated from peripheral blood cells from both cases and controls.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The frequency of the GSTT1 positive genotype was significantly higher in cases (69.8%) than in controls (42.5%) (P = 0.004, OR = 3.12, 95% CI 1.42 approximately 6.86). The frequency of GSTM1 negative genotype was also higher in cases (72.1%) than in controls (52.5%) (P = 0.03, OR = 2.34, 95% CI 1.05 approximately 5.02). Persons with both GSTM1 and GSTT1 negative genotypes had 5-fold more risk than those with GSTT1 negative and GSTM1 positive genotypes in developing mountain sickness (OR = 5.04, 95% CI: 1.00 approximately 25.3).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Genetic polymorphisms of glutathione S-transferase M1, T1 may be the risk factors in the development of mountain sickness.</p>