title: Influence of VEGF-C936T genetic variant on age-related macular degeneration.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the association between the VEGF-C936T polymorphism and serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels, lifestyle, and demographic parameters in patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 183 individuals were enrolled in the present study, including 88 patients with AMD receiving clinical and pharmacological treatment (study group, SG) and 95 individuals without AMD as controls (control group, CG). The presence of the VEGF-C936T polymorphism and serum VEGF levels were determined using polymerase chain reaction/restriction fragment length polymorphism and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively. Significance was set at P<0.05 for all statistical analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The homozygous wild-type genotype (CC) and the C allele were predominant in both groups (P=0.934 and P=0.938, respectively). Serum VEGF levels (assessed in 57% and 31% of patients in the SG and CG, respectively) were comparable between groups (SG, 307.9 ± 223.6 pg/mL; CG, 305.1 ± 212.3 pg/mL; P=0.955). A significantly higher prevalence of smoking (44% vs 25%; P=0.01) and hypertension (66% vs 48%; P=0.025) was observed in the SG than in the CG. The distribution of alcohol consumption and dyslipidemia was similar between groups (P>0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the present study group of Brazilian patients, the VEGF-C936T polymorphism was not found to be associated with age-related macular degeneration. However, smoking and systemic arterial hypertension (SAH) were found to be potential independent risk factors for the development of age-related macular degeneration. Comparable serum VEGF levels in both study groups may reflect the efficacy of pharmacological treatment of AMD.
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Medicina de São José do Rio Preto, São José do Rio Preto, SP, BR.
authors.forename: Fernanda Tanaka Iasbeck
authors.initials: FT
authors.lastname: Gonçalves
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Medicina de São José do Rio Preto, São José do Rio Preto, SP, BR.
authors.forename: Sabrina Mayara
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Cezario
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Medicina de São José do Rio Preto, São José do Rio Preto, SP, BR.
authors.forename: Maria Clara Jessica
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Calastri
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Medicina de São José do Rio Preto, São José do Rio Preto, SP, BR.
authors.forename: Camila Ive Ferreira
authors.initials: CI
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Medicina de São José do Rio Preto, São José do Rio Preto, SP, BR.
authors.forename: Dorotéia Rossi Silva
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Souza
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Medicina de São José do Rio Preto, Ribeirão Preto, SP, BR.
authors.forename: Marcela Augusta de Souza
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Pinhel
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Faculdade de Medicina de São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo, SP, BR.
authors.forename: Carina Costa
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Cotrim
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Faculdade de Medicina de São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo, SP, BR.
authors.forename: Rodrigo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jorge
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Faculdade de Medicina de São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo, SP, BR.
authors.forename: Rubens Camargo
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Siqueira
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects; D001938:Brazil; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D050171:Dyslipidemias / Q000150:complications; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D056726:Genetic Association Studies; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications; D008019:Life Style; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A