Vascular endothelial growth factor polymorphisms are involved in the late vascular complications in Type II diabetic patients.

AIM

To determine the potential genotype differences in the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) gene in diabetic patients, which might explain the difference in terms of the development of clinical vascular complications: great vessels atherosclerosis vs. retinopathy.

METHODS

Genotyping of the VEFG gene insertion/deletion -2549, the C-2578A and the G+405C polymorphisms was done in 40 diabetic patients (26 with peripheral artery disease (PAD) and 14 with diabetic retinopathy (DR)).

RESULTS

There was a significant increase in the frequency of the VEGF -2549 DD genotype in PAD patients compared with the DR group (34.6 vs. 0; p = 0.016), as well as in the distribution of the VEGF -2549 ID genotype in DR compared with PAD patients (85.7 vs. 38.4; p = 0.005). There was a significant increase in the frequency of the VEGF -2578 CC genotype in the PAD group compared with DR (34.6 vs. 0; p = 0.016), as well as in the VEGF -2578 CA genotype in DR patients compared with PAD (85.7 vs. 34.6; p = 0.002). The VEGF +405 genotype was not associated with diabetic vascular complications.

CONCLUSION

This study provides preliminary evidence that VEGF polymorphisms are associated with a differential presentation of diabetic vascular complications.