Association of genetic polymorphisms of vascular endothelial growth factor and risk for proliferative retinopathy of prematurity

The intention of our retrospective study was to determine whether vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) genetic polymorphisms are associated with risk for proliferative retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), a condition that is characterized by abnormal retinal neovascularization and can lead to retinal detachment and result in blindness. We enrolled 86 very low birth weight infants (birth weight : 1500 g) who had been treated with cryo/laser therapy because of the risk for proliferative ROP (treated group). Their VEGF T-460C and G(+405)C genotypes were determined from dried blood samples and were compared with VEGF genotypes of 115 VLBW infants who were not treated with cryo/laser therapy (untreated group). We found that the allele frequency of VEGF C+405 was higher in the treated group than in the untreated group (0.30 versus 0.41; p < 0.05). The likelihood of being treated for ROP was higher in heterozygous and homozygous carriers of VEGF C+405 alleles [odds ratios adjusted for risk factors of ROP (95% CI): 2.00 (1.02-3.92; p = 0.04) and 3.37 (1.17-9.65; p = 0.007), respectively]. VEGF -460TT/(+405) CC haplotype was more prevalent in the treated patients than in the untreated patients (13 of 86 versus 1 of 115; p < 0.001), and the association remained significant (p < 0.01) even after the adjustment for risk factors of ROP (gestational age, supplemental oxygen therapy, and gender). These findings suggest that the VEGF genotype may be associated with risk for proliferative ROP in VLBW infants.