title: Association of -634G/C and 936C/T polymorphisms of the vascular endothelial growth factor with spontaneous preterm delivery.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is convincing evidence for a central role of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in fetal and placental angiogenesis. Our present study was undertaken to examine the possible relationship between two common functional VEGF gene polymorphisms (- 634G/C and 936C/T), linked with altered VEGF gene responsiveness, and spontaneous preterm delivery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Genomic DNA was extracted from whole blood from 54 women with preterm labor and 79 menopausal women with at least two term spontaneous labors. DNA samples were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Individuals with 936T/T or 936C/T genotype demonstrated a statistically significant association with preterm delivery compared with those sharing 936C/C genotype [P = 0.0009, risk factor 2.05, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.37-3.06]. There were no significant associations between spontaneous preterm delivery and - 634 genotypes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An association was demonstrated between the VEGF 936C/T polymorphism and deliveries before 37 weeks of gestation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Medical School, Democritus University of Thrace, Patriarhou Grigoriou 97-99, 68100 Alexandroupolis, Greece. dapap@otenet.gr
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Papazoglou
authors.forename: Georgios
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Galazios
authors.forename: Michael I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Koukourakis
authors.forename: Emmanuel N
authors.initials: EN
authors.lastname: Kontomanolis
authors.forename: Efstratios
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Maltezos
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000235:genetics*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D011247:Pregnancy; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A