title: Vascular endothelial growth factor gene polymorphisms and intracranial aneurysms.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The exact pathophysiology of the development and rupture of saccular aneurysms is still controversial. Several lines of evidence indicate a role for inflammatory processes. Similarly, abnormal angiogenesis might be related to aneurysm growth. Expression of angiogenesis factors is higher in patients harboring aneurysms. The aim of this study was to verify the association of two functionally active polymorphisms (+ 396 C>T and 18 bp microdeletion) in the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) gene with both susceptibility to and clinical features of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) in an Italian population.
  
  
  METHODS
  Allelic and genotypic frequencies of the + 396 C>T and the 18 bp microdeletion of the VEGF gene were determined in 200 patients and 200 healthy controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both allelic and genotypic frequencies of the examined polymorphisms in the VEGF gene were not significantly different between cases and controls. Furthermore, the different VEGF genotypes did not seem to significantly modify the main clinical features of the disease.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data suggest that the VEGF gene is not a major genetic risk factor for aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Division of Neurosurgery, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fontanella
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gallone
authors.forename: Pier Paolo
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Panciani
authors.forename: Diego
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Garbossa
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Stefini
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Latronico
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rubino
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Marengo
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ducati
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pinessi
authors.forename: Innocenzo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Rainero
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005820:Genetic Testing / Q000379:methods; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D002532:Intracranial Aneurysm / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A