Association study between single nucleotide polymorphisms in the VEGF gene and polycystic ovary syndrome

Objective: To investigate single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) gene that have significant associations with the pathogenesis of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in a Korean population. Design: Case-control study. Setting: University-based hospital. Patient(s): One hundred thirty-four patients with PCOS and 100 healthy women as controls. Intervention(s): None. Main Outcome Measure(s): Frequencies of genotypes for SNPs in VEGF gene, which were specifically expressed in a Korean population. Result(s): After genotypic analysis, we found that among 10 SNPs, one novel SNP at site +9812 and one known SNP at site +13553 have P values lower than .05 (+9812: odds ratio [95% confidence interval] 0.61 [0.39-0.95]; +13553: odds ratio [95% confidence interval] 0.59 [0.37-0.93]) and one haplotype (ht4) also has a P value in the significant range (odds ratio [95% confidence interval] 0.34 [0.16-0.74]). Conclusion(s): We concluded that one novel SNP at +9812 site, one known SNP at +13553 site, and one selected haplotype in the VEGF gene have a high possibility of significant associations with the pathogenesis of PCOS in a Korean population.