ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Gene Polymorphisms and Recurrent Pregnancy Loss

PROBLEM: To be successful, pregnancy must induce its own blood supply through angiogenesis and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is the best characterized regulator of angiogenesis and one polymorphism of the VEGF gene, -1154, has been suggested to be associated with recurrent spontaneous abortion. The aim of this study was to confirm or refute the relationship of VEGF -1154 to recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL). METHOD OF STUDY: Buccal swabs were obtained from 152 women with history of two or more consecutive spontaneous abortions and 65 control women. DNA was extracted from the buccal swabs and analyzed for the presence of the VEGF -1154A/A gene. RESULTS: The frequency of homozygosity of the VEGF -1154A gene was significantly higher among women experiencing RPL compared with fertile control women (16% versus 6%, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Homozygosity of the VEGF -1154A gene may serve as a susceptibility factor affecting for RPL.