Vascular endothelial growth factor C/A 2578 gene polymorphism and umbilical artery Doppler in preeclamptic women

Preeclampsia is strongly associated with placental hypoperfusion. Genetic factors have an impact on the pathogenesis of preeclampsia. The aim is to assess the association of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (C2578A) gene polymorphism with the occurrence and severity of preeclampsia and the umbilical artery Doppler changes among preeclamptic women.

This case-control study was conducted in clinical and Chemical pathology and Obstetrics departments in Beni- Suef University, Egypt. Two hundred and ninety pregnant women above 20 weeks gestational age until delivery were divided into 2 main groups. The patient group included 145 preeclamptic women who were further sub grouped according to the severity of preeclampsia into 82 severe and 63 mild cases. Control group included 145 normotensive pregnant women. Our primary outcome was detection of VEGF C 2578 A gene mutations by a polymerase chain reaction. A secondary outcome was Doppler changes in the pulsatility index of the umbilical artery compared with VEGF genotypes.

Our study showed that VEGF C 2578 A genotype and alleles frequencies were not related to the occurrence of preeclampsia (p-value 0.513 and 0.549, respectively), odds ratio (95%CI) 1.154 (0.724-1.848). Mild preeclamptic cases showed no significance comparing VEGF genotypes studied and pulsatility index of the umbilical artery. However, severe cases showed p-value < 0.0001.

We concluded that VEGF 2578C/A polymorphism had no association with the occurrence of preeclampsia in studied groups, whereas there was a significant relationship among severe cases between CA and CC genotypes and pulsatility index of the umbilical artery.