title: Association of genetic polymorphisms of vascular endothelial growth factor and risk for proliferative retinopathy of prematurity.
abstract: The intention of our retrospective study was to determine whether vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) genetic polymorphisms are associated with risk for proliferative retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), a condition that is characterized by abnormal retinal neovascularization and can lead to retinal detachment and result in blindness. We enrolled 86 very low birth weight infants (birth weight < or =1500 g) who had been treated with cryo/laser therapy because of the risk for proliferative ROP (treated group). Their VEGF T-460C and G+405C genotypes were determined from dried blood samples and were compared with VEGF genotypes of 115 VLBW infants who were not treated with cryo/laser therapy (untreated group). We found that the allele frequency of VEGF +405C was higher in the treated group than in the untreated group (0.30 versus 0.41; p <0.05). The likelihood of being treated for ROP was higher in heterozygous and homozygous carriers of VEGF +405C alleles [odds ratios adjusted for risk factors of ROP (95% CI): 2.00 (1.02-3.92; p=0.04) and 3.37 (1.17-9.65; p=0.007), respectively]. VEGF -460TT/+405CC haplotype was more prevalent in the treated patients than in the untreated patients (13 of 86 versus 1 of 115; p <0.001), and the association remained significant (p <0.01) even after the adjustment for risk factors of ROP (gestational age, supplemental oxygen therapy, and gender). These findings suggest that the VEGF genotype may be associated with risk for proliferative ROP in VLBW infants.
authors.affiliation: Research Group for Paediatrics and Nephrology, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary. vannay@gyer1.sote.hu
authors.forename: Adám
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vannay
authors.forename: György
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dunai
authors.forename: Ilona
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bányász
authors.forename: Miklós
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Szabó
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vámos
authors.forename: András
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Treszl
authors.forename: Júlia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hajdú
authors.forename: Tivadar
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tulassay
authors.forename: Barna
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Vásárhelyi
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight; D008297:Male; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D012178:Retinopathy of Prematurity / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A