The placental vascular endothelial growth factor polymorphisms and preeclampsia/preeclampsia severity

Preeclampsia (PE) is a serious pregnancy-specific condition, which originates from placenta and finishes after delivery. The present study has investigated the association between placental VEGF I/D (rs35569394), -1154G/A (rs1570360), and -634G/C(rs2010963) polymorphisms and maternal VEGF -2549 I/D (rs35569394) polymorphism with PE and PE severity. In this case-control study, the maternal blood of 217 women with PE and 210 normotensive pregnant women and the placenta of 84 PE women and 103 normotensive women were collected after delivery. Genotyping was done by PCR or PCR-RFLP methods. The maternal VEGF-2549I/D genotypes were not associated with PE or PE severity. The placental VEGF -2549 I/D genotypes were not associated with PE too; however; the placental VEGF-2549 DD genotype was statistically different between women with severe PE and mild PE or the controls. The placental VEGF -634GC and CC genotypes were significantly higher in PE women and associated with 2.6 and 2-fold higher risk of PE, respectively. The VEGF -634GC and CC genotypes were associated with PE severity. No association was found between placental VEGF -1154G/A polymorphism and PE or PE severity. The placental DGC haplotype of VEGF -2549 I/D, -1154G/A, and -634G/C polymorphisms was associated with 2.9-fold higher risk of PE. However, the placental IAG haplotype was associated with 0.3-fold lower risk of PE. In conclusion, the placental VEGF -2549 DD genotype was associated with severe PE and the placental -634GC and CC genotypes were associated with PE and severe PE. No association was found between VEGF -1154G/A polymorphism and PE or PE severity.