title: Vascular endothelial growth factor gene polymorphisms and vasculitis susceptibility: A meta-analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to explore whether vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) polymorphisms are associated with susceptibility to vasculitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Meta-analyses were conducted on the associations between the -634 C/G, +936 C/T, -1154 A/G, and -2578 A/C polymorphisms of VEGF and vasculitis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eight studies on VEGF polymorphisms and vasculitis involving 2740 subjects (vasculitis 834, controls 1906) were included in this meta-analysis. The meta-analysis showed no association between vasculitis and the VEGF -634 C allele (OR=1.161, 95% CI=0.921-1.464, p=0.207) among study subjects. Meta-analysis showed no association between vasculitis and the VEGF+936 T allele (OR=1.121, 95% CI=0.905-1.390, p=0.295). However, stratification by ethnicity indicated a significant association between the VEGF+936 T allele and vasculitis in Europeans, but not in Asians (OR=1.486, 95% CI=1.038-2.128, p=0.030; OR=0.958, 95% CI=0.773-1.253, p=0.755). Meta-analysis showed no association between vasculitis and the VEGF -1154 A/G and 2578 A/C polymorphisms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This meta-analysis suggests that the VEGF+936 T allele is associated with susceptibility to vasculitis in Europeans, but not in Asians.
authors.affiliation: Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Gwan Gyu
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jae-Hoon
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: lyhcgh@korea.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Young Ho
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000483:Alleles; D044466:Asian People; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D016017:Odds Ratio; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000235:genetics*; D014657:Vasculitis / Q000208:ethnology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D044465:White People
chemical_list: C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
keywords: Meta-analysis; Polymorphism; VEGF; Vasculitis