Summary
| Direction in Gulf War Illness | ↕ Inconsistent — reported as both higher and lower across studies, with no consistent direction |
|---|---|
| Category | Exposure |
| Also described as | Genetic exposure susceptibility |
| Compared against | Genotype-stratified |
| Associated symptoms | Pesticide exposure response |
| Test type | Blood test (serum / plasma / whole blood) |
| Source | Gean et al. 2021 — doi:10.1016/j.lfs.2021.119456 |
| Condition atlas | Gulf War Illness Biomarker Atlas |
Related Exposure markers in Gulf War Illness
- PON1 (paraoxonase 1) activity ↓
- Butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) ↕
- Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) ↕
- DNA adducts (pesticide-related) ↑
- Depleted uranium (urinary) ↕
- Sarin/cyclosarin exposure markers ↕
Full list: Gulf War Illness Biomarker Atlas.
Frequently asked questions
Is PON1 Q192R polymorphism high or low in Gulf War Illness?
Mixed. Some studies report higher and others lower PON1 Q192R polymorphism in Gulf War Illness compared with Genotype-stratified, so no single direction is established. Source: Gean et al. 2021.
What symptoms is PON1 Q192R polymorphism associated with in Gulf War Illness?
The cited literature associates this marker with Pesticide exposure response. These are population-level associations and do not mean the marker causes the symptoms.
Which test measures PON1 Q192R polymorphism?
It is measured as a blood test (serum / plasma / whole blood). Many of the cited studies used research-grade assays, so clinical availability may vary.
Is one abnormal PON1 Q192R polymorphism result diagnostic of Gulf War Illness?
No. No single biomarker is diagnostic of Gulf War Illness. PON1 Q192R polymorphism findings come from group comparisons, overlap considerably between patients and controls, and vary with study design, timing and comparison group. A result should be interpreted by a clinician alongside symptoms, history and other tests.
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Last reviewed: 2026-06-29 · Page generated from gulf-war-illness.json · Browse: Gulf War Illness atlas · Biomarker Index · All marker pages
Disclaimer: This page is an educational synthesis of published, peer-reviewed research and is not medical advice. Biomarker findings vary across studies with case definitions, comparison groups, timing and assay methods. Direction of change reflects the predominant finding in the cited source and does not establish a diagnostic threshold. Discuss any test result with a qualified clinician.