Polymorphisms in the VEGF-A in polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy in a Korean population.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to investigate whether polymorphisms in the vascular endothelial growth factor A gene (VEGF-A) are associated with polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) in a Korean population and whether they are associated with PCV phenotypes.


METHODS
This was a case-control study comprising 111 patients with PCV and 123 control participants. The PCV and control groups were genotyped for five polymorphisms in VEGF-A. Clinical characteristics were evaluated, including best-corrected visual acuity, fundus findings, and angiography findings at the first visit. Main outcome measures were the genotypes of variants and association with phenotypes.


RESULTS
Only rs833069 in VEGF-A generated significant allelic associations with PCV (P = 2.24 × 10(-5)). As compared with the AA group, the GG genotype group in rs833069 had a 6.25-fold increased risk of PCV [P = 7.45 × 10(-5), 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.52-15.46] and the AG group had a 1.82-fold increased risk (P = 0.029, 95% CI 1.03-3.24). The haplotype CCGC in VEGF-A showed an association with PCV (P = 2.90 × 10(-5)). However, the phenotypic characteristics of PCV did not show an association with the rs833069 genotypes.


CONCLUSIONS
The rs833069 polymorphism in VEGF-A was significantly associated with the risk of PCV in a Korean population.
Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, #50 Samduk-dong-2-ga, Jung-gu, Daegu, 700-721, South Korea.
Dong Ho
DH
Park
In Taek
IT
Kim
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015862:Choroid Diseases / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D011127:Polyps / Q000235:genetics*; D056910:Republic of Korea; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D019032:Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000235:genetics*; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology
C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A