Association between vascular endothelial growth factor polymorphism and recurrent pregnancy loss: а systematic review and meta-analysis

• Yaling Sun
• Min Chen
• Benyu Mao
• Xianglin Cheng
• Xianping Zhang
• Chuanxin Xu

Abstract

Purpose. Some studies have reported that vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) genetic polymor­phisms are associated with recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL), but the results are controversial. This study is aimed to quantify the strength of this association.

Methods. A systematic review of the published literature from MEDLINE, Springer, and China National Know­ledge Infra structure (CNKI) databases was conducted and investigations of VEGF genetic polymorphisms in RPL were selected. We estimated the pooled odds ratio (OR) to assess this possible association.

Results. 15 case-control studies comprising 2702 cases and 2667 controls and including 5 genetic poly­morphisms (rs3025039, rs833061, rs15703060, rs2010963 and rs699947) were eligible for this meta-analysis. The overall analysis suggested that only 2 genetic polymorphisms (rs1570360, rs3025039) were associated with increased risk of RPL. A significant increased risk between VEGF rs1570360 polymorphism and RPL was only found under the dominant model in Caucasians (OR=1.70, 95% CI 1.02-2.82, р=0.04). Whereas, we found that VEGF rs3025039 polymorphism was significantly associated with RPL both under the dominant and reces­sive model in East Asians, and their summary odd ratios and 95% CIs were 1.26, 1.04-1.53, р=0.02 and 2.94, 1.80-4.83, р=0, respectively.

Conclusions. This meta-analysis showed that only rs1570360 (especially in Caucasians) and rs3025039 (especially in East Asians) may be risk factors for RPL.

Keywords:meta-analysis, VEGF, habitual miscarriage, polymorphism