Vascular endothelial growth factor gene polymorphisms and intracranial aneurysms.

BACKGROUND: The exact pathophysiology of the development and rupture of saccular aneurysms is still controversial. Several lines of evidence indicate a role for inflammatory processes. Similarly, abnormal angiogenesis might be related to aneurysm growth. Expression of angiogenesis factors is higher in patients harboring aneurysms. The aim of this study was to verify the association of two functionally active polymorphisms (+ 396 C>T and 18 bp microdeletion) in the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) gene with both susceptibility to and clinical features of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) in an Italian population. METHOD: Allelic and genotypic frequencies of the + 396 C>T and the 18 bp microdeletion of the VEGF gene were determined in 200 patients and 200 healthy controls. RESULTS: Both allelic and genotypic frequencies of the examined polymorphisms in the VEGF gene were not significantly different between cases and controls. Furthermore, the different VEGF genotypes did not seem to significantly modify the main clinical features of the disease. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that the VEGF gene is not a major genetic risk factor for aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.