VEGF 936C>T is predictive of threshold retinopathy of prematurity in Japanese infants with a 30-week gestational age or less

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) contributes to the development of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). We investigated the association of ROP with VEGF genetic polymorphisms and its clinical parameters in Japanese people. Sixty-seven infants with a gestational age of 30 weeks or less were enrolled and classified into the threshold ROP group (infants with Stage 3 ROP in zone I or II, five continuous or eight total clock hours of the retina and the presence of plus disease, n = 30) and the nonthreshold ROP group (n = 37). The VEGF genotypes of −1498T>C, −1154G>A, −634C>G, −7C>T, 936C>T, and 1612G>A were determined. VEGF 936C>T polymorphism and 11 clinical parameters were significantly different between the two ROP groups by univariate analysis. A logistic regression analysis with adjustments for gestational age and birth weight showed that the heterozygous or homozygous carrier state of the T alleles of VEGF 936C>T polymorphism (odds ratio 5.12; 95% confidence interval: 1.25–20.92; P = 0.023) and duration of oxygen administration (odds ratio 1.05; 95% confidence interval: 1.00–1.10; P = 0.042) were independent risk factors of threshold ROP. VEGF 936C>T polymorphism may predict threshold ROP in Japanese infants with a gestational age of 30 weeks or less.