Vitamin K epoxide reductase complex subunit 1 (VKORC1) polymorphism and aortic calcification: the Rotterdam Study.
OBJECTIVE
Besides effects on hemostasis, vitamin K-dependent proteins play a role in bone mineralization and arterial calcification. We investigated the association between the VKORC1 1173C>T polymorphism and calcification of the aortic far wall in a large population-based cohort.


RESULTS
Aortic calcification was diagnosed by radiographic detection of calcified deposits in the abdominal aorta. In all cohort members for whom DNA was available, the C1173T SNP of VKORC1 (rs9934438) was determined. With multivariable logistic regression analysis the association between this polymorphism and the risk of aortic calcification was calculated, adjusted for potential confounders. The T allele frequency of the VKORC1 1173C>T polymorphism was 38.8%. 1185 (37.2%) persons were homozygous CC, 1529 (48,0%) were heterozygous CT and 473 (14.8%) were homozygous TT. Persons with at least one T-allele had a statistically significant 19% (95% CI 2 to 40%) risk increase of calcification of the aortic far wall compared to CC homozygous persons, adjusted for age and gender.


CONCLUSIONS
The T-allele of the VKORC1 1173C>T polymorphism was associated with a significantly higher risk of aortic calcification in Whites.
Teichert
M
M
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Erasmus Medical Center, PO Box 2040, 3000 CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Visser
L E
LE
van Schaik
R H N
RH
Hofman
A
A
Uitterlinden
A G
AG
De Smet
P A G M
PA
Witteman
J C M
JC
Stricker
B H Ch
BH
D000368:Aged; D000483:Alleles; D001012:Aorta, Abdominal; D001018:Aortic Diseases / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics*; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D006899:Mixed Function Oxygenases / Q000235:genetics*; D009426:Netherlands; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D064417:Vitamin K Epoxide Reductases
D006899:Mixed Function Oxygenases; C578523:VKORC1 protein, human; D064417:Vitamin K Epoxide Reductases