BRIGHTON, England -- Polymorphisms in the vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) gene are associated with the development of cardiovascular complications in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, a researcher said here.
Two single-nucleotide polymorphisms in the VEGFA promoter region (−2578 and −460) were associated with a heightened risk for ischemic heart disease and myocardial infarction, according to Ying Chen, PhD, of Keele University in Stoke-on-Trent in Staffordshire, and colleagues.
In contrast, two other common variants found in the 5' and 3' untranslated regions of the gene (+405 and +936) were not associated with these cardiovascular outcomes, Chen's group reported in a poster session at the annual meeting of the British Society for Rheumatology.
Multiple factors contribute to the excess risk of cardiovascular disease in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, including traditional risk factors such as hypertension and dyslipidemia, as well as disease-associated factors including autoantibodies and inflammation.
Genetic factors also may play a role. Polymorphisms in the VEGF gene have been implicated in the development of atherosclerosis in the general population, with some investigators arguing that increased levels of serum VEGF exert a protective effect.
However, a possible role for these polymorphisms in cardiovascular outcome in rheumatoid arthritis has not previously been explored.
So Chen and colleagues conducted genotype testing for four common single-nucleotide VEGF polymorphisms in 418 consecutive patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
They found evidence of ischemic heart disease and previous myocardial infarction in 18.7% and 11% of patients, respectively.
To read the entire article: http://www.medpagetoday.com/Rheumatology/Arthritis/26015