308GA and LT-α--em class="a-plus-plus">252AG polymorphisms. Results The carriers of the TNF-α-em class="a-plus-plus">308A allele more frequently had asthma as compared to patients homozygous for the TNF-α-em class="a-plus-plus">308 G allele. In 9 of 108 (8.3%) of LTα--em class="a-plus-plus">252AA carriers, tuberculosis infection has been documented, whereas there was no case of tuberculosis among patients, either homozygous or heterozygous for LTα +252 G alleles (p--.01). We never observed virus hepatitis among LTα--em class="a-plus-plus">252GA carriers. The genotypes TNF-α-em class="a-plus-plus">308GG -LT-α--em class="a-plus-plus">252AA and TNF-α-em class="a-plus-plus">308GA -LT-α--em class="a-plus-plus">252AG were unfavorable with regard to liver disease development (both p-lt;-.05). It was also shown that neutrophil elastase activity was higher in sputum specimens from high TNF producers with genotypes TNF-α-em class="a-plus-plus">308GA or LT-α--em class="a-plus-plus">252GG. In addition the carriers of such genotypes demonstrated a higher risk of osteoporosis development (p values were 0.011 and 0.017, respectively). Conclusions The carriers of genotypes, which are associated with higher TNF-α production, demonstrated increased frequency of asthma, higher levels of neutrophil elastase, and decrease of bone density. On the contrary, the carriers of genotypes associated with low TNF-α production showed a higher frequency of tuberculosis infection." />