Int J Immunogenet. 2019;00:1–7. wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/iji | 1 © 2019 John Wiley & Sons Ltd 1 | INTRODUCTION Respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) is a common lung trouble in preterm neonates, which is the chief reason for illness and demise in preterm neonates. RDS results from lung parenchymal damage because of the absence of lung‐related surfactant. Harm to alve‐ olar cells and lung‐related microvascular endothelial cells prompts RDS (Jiao, Lv, & Cao, 2019). It comes up in 60%–80% of neonates under 28 weeks of pregnant age, in about 5% more than 37 weeks (El‐Khaleegy et al., 2018). Received: 21 May 2019 | Revised: 19 July 2019 | Accepted: 30 July 2019 DOI: 10.1111/iji.12455 ORIGINAL ARTICLE Association between interleukin‐10 genetic variant (‐1082G>A) with detection and severity of respiratory distress syndrome in preterm neonates Osama S. Al‐shaer 1 | Eman G. Behiry 1 | Akram E. Elsadek 2 | Shaimaa A. Salama 3 1 Clinical and Chemical Pathology Department, Benha faculty of medicine, Benha University, Benha, Egypt 2 Pediatric Department, Benha faculty of medicine, Benha University, Benha, Egypt 3 M.B.B.CH. Faculty of Medicine, Benha University, Benha, Egypt Correspondence Eman Gamal Behiry, Clinical and chemical pathology Department, Benha faculty of medicine, Benha University, Benha, Egypt. Email: emangamal24@yahoo.com Abstract Background: Abnormal cytokine production derived from specific polymorphisms can have effect on development of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). Therefore, the present study aimed to determine whether polymorphisms of IL10 in preterm newborn are associated with RDS. Methods: A total of one hundred and one venous blood samples were collected from preterm neonates, and they were classified as 51 with no RDS and 50 with RDS. Grading of RDS, history of surfactant administration or ventilator was assessed in the diseased group. Genetic variant of IL10‐1082G/A (rs1800896) was genotyped by PCR‐RFLP. Results: The RDS group showed a higher prevalence of IL10‐1082 AA and lower prevalence of IL10‐1082 GG ( p < .001). We found that the incidence of the allele G in the IL10‐1082 polymorphism was lower in the RDS group (24%) than the non‐RDS group (51%) ( p < .001). Allele model (A vs. G): OR = 0.304, 95% CI: 0.166–0.554, p≤ .001; Dominant model (AA vs. AG + GG): OR = 00.470, 95% CI: 0.282–0.783, p = .04. More severe grades of RDS, need for surfactant and mechanical ventilation, were significantly associated with AA genotype when compared to AG + GG geno‐ types. IL10 (AG + GG) genotypes were considered as an independent predictor for lower risk of RDS within preterm neonates. Conclusion: IL10‐1082 A/A genotype associated with increased susceptibility to RDS. Also, A allele has been associated with increase severity of RDS in preterm neo‐ nates. Regression analysis revealed that IL10 AG + GG genotypes were considered as independent predictors for lower risk development of RDS within preterm neonates. KEYWORDS IL10, preterm, RDS