Abstract： Objective To investigate the relation of a lipopolysaccharide receptor CD14C-159T gene polymorphism to severe sepsis susceptibility and outcome in postoperation.Methods A prospective,consecutive entry study WSS made among 42 postoperative severe sepsis admitted in neurosurgeon,and 50 health volunteers.The genomic DNA of peripheral blood nucleated was extracted.Typing of each patient for the CD14-159C/T gene polymorphism was performed by restrictive fragment length polymorphism(RFLP).Genotypes were then related to the susceptibility and mortality rate of severe sepsis.Results Development of postoperative severe sepsis increased in patients homozygous for the allele T(78.4%)than that of the allele C(21.6%)(P＜0.05).The mortalitv of sepsis were significantly higher in patients with CD14 homozygous for the T allete(TT)(84.6%)than those with genotype TC (15.4%)and C ailetc(CC)(O).Conclusion The single base pair polymorphism at position-159 in the CD14 gene promoter might influence the development of severe sepsis as well as outcome in postopration.