Impact of VEGF polymorphisms on the severity of peripheral artery disease in diabetic patients

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To determine the potential genotype vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) gene differences in diabetic patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD), which might be associated with different stages of the vascular disease. METHODS: A study was conducted with type 2 diabetic patients with PAD [n = 70; 32 intermittent claudication and 38 critical limb ischaemia (CLI)]. Genotyping of the VEGF gene insertion/deletion - 2549, - 2578 C/A and +405 G/C polymorphisms was done in both groups and correlated them with the severity of PAD. We compared serum VEGF levels in both groups. RESULTS: There was a higher frequency of +405 CC and - 2578 CC genotypes in claudication group [(31.3% vs. 5.4%, p = 0.01) and (37.5% vs. 15.8%, p = 0.05), respectively]. The presence of +405 GG and - 2578 AA genotypes was more common among CLI patients [(57.8% vs. 37.5%, p = 0.01) and (42.1% vs. 18.8%, p = 0.05), respectively]. There were higher serum VEGF levels in patients with CLI (p = 0.029). CONCLUSIONS: We found preliminary evidence regarding the association between VEGF polymorphisms and different stages of PAD in diabetic patients.