The associations between VEGF gene polymorphisms and diabetic retinopathy susceptibility: A meta-analysis of 11 case-control studies

Aims. published data on the associations of vegf polymorphisms with diabetic retinopathy (dr) susceptibility are inconclusive. a systematic meta-analysis was undertaken to clarify this topic. methods. data were collected from the following electronic databases: pubmed,embase,ovid,web of science,elsevier science direct,excerpta medica database (embase),and cochrane library with the last report up to january 10,2014. ors and 95% cis were calculated for vegf-2578c/a (rs699947),-1154g/a (rs1570360),-460t/c (rs833061),-634g>c (rs2010963),and +936c/t (rs3025039) in at least two published studies. meta-analysis was performed in a fixed/random effect model by using the software stata 12.0. results. a total of 11 studies fulfilling the inclusion criteria were included in this meta-analysis. a significant relationship between vegf+936c/t (rs3025039) polymorphism and dr was found in a recessive model (or = 3.19,95% ci = 1.20-8.41,and p (z) = 0.01) in asian and overall populations,while a significant association was also found between -460t/c (rs833061) polymorphism and dr risk under a recessive model (or = 2.12,95% ci = 1.12-4.01,and p (z) = 0.02). conclusions. our meta-analysis demonstrates that +936c/t (rs3025039) is likely to be associated with susceptibility to dr in asian populations,and the recessive model of -460t/c (rs833061) is associated with elevated dr susceptibility. © 2014 liyuan han et al.