Progression of lumbar spinal stenosis is influenced by polymorphism of thrombospondin 2 gene in the Korean population.

PURPOSE

The aim of this study is to determine the contribution of thrombospondin 2 (THBS2) polymorphisms to the development and progression of lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) in the Korean population.

METHODS

We studied 148 symptomatic patients with radiographically proven LSS and 157 volunteers with no history of back problems from our institution. Magnetic resonance images were obtained for all the patients and controls. Quantitative image evaluation for LSS was performed to evaluate the severity of LSS. All patients and controls were genotyped for THBS2 allele variations using a polymerase chain reaction-based technique.

RESULTS

We found no causal single nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs) in THBS2 that were significantly associated with LSS. Two SNPs (rs6422747, rs6422748) were over-represented in controls [P = 0.042, odds ratio [OR] = 0.55 and P = 0.042, OR = 0.55, respectively]. Haplotype analysis showed that the ''AGAGACG'' haplotype (HAP4) and ''AAGGACG'' haplotype (HAP5) were over-represented in severe LSS patients (P = 0.0147, OR = 2.02 and P = 0.0137, OR = 2.48, respectively). In addition, the ''AAAGGGG'' haplotype (HAP1) was over-represented in controls (P = 0.0068, OR = 0.30).

CONCLUSIONS

Although no SNPs in THBS2 were associated with LSS, haplotypes (HAP4 and HAP5) were significantly associated with progression of LSS in the Korean population, whereas another haplotype (HAP1) may play a protective role against LSS development.