Systematic review with meta‐analysis: the I148M variant of patatin‐like phospholipase domain‐containing 3 gene (PNPLA3) is significantly associated with alcoholic liver cirrhosis

Summary Background Several studies have reported an association between alcoholic liver cirrhosis (ALC) or other forms of alcoholic liver disease (ALD) and the genetic variant rs738409 (C>G) in adiponutrin/patatin‐like phospholipase domain‐containing 3 gene (PNPLA3). Aim To evaluate the influence of this variant on ALC and other forms of ALD. Methods We performed a systematic review of previous studies on the relationship between rs738409 of PNPLA3 and ALD and meta‐analysis was conducted in a random‐effects model. Calculations of the odds ratios (ORs) and their confidence intervals (CIs), tests for heterogeneity and sensitivity analyses were performed. Results Database search identified 11 previous studies available for inclusion with a total of 3495 patients with ALD (2087 with ALC) and 5038 controls (4007 healthy subjects and 1031 alcoholics without ALD). Patients with ALC compared to controls had a significantly higher prevalence of the G allele when comparing GG vs. CC (OR 4.30, 95% CI 3.25–5.69; P