OBJECTIVE: Interleukin-4 plays a key role in the development of asthma.Overseas studies have shown that Q576R polymorphism in the interleukin-4 receptor(IL-4R) gene is related to asthma as well as increased serum IgE levels. This study was designed to investigate the association of Q576R polymorphism in IL-4R gene with childhood asthma and serum IgE levels. METHODS: The polymorphism of IL-4R Q576R was determined by PCR/RFLP and serum total IgE level was measured using ELISA in 94 children with asthma. Sixty-eight healthy children served as controls. RESULTS: The distribution frequency of heterozygous genotype Q576R(41%) and mutant allele R576(26%) was significantly higher in children with asthma than that of controls(16% each)(P<0.01; P<0.05). The total serum IgE level between patients with genotype Q576R and Q576Q was not significantly different(225.78±51.43 IU/mL vs 163.24±31.32 IU/mL, P>(0.05)). CONCLUSIONS: The mutant R576 allele of IL-4R may be one of the candidate genes for susceptibility to asthma. Allele R576 of IL-4R is related to asthma but is irrelevant to the total serum IgE level in children with asthma.