Association between vascular endothelial growth factor + 936 genotype and acute respiratory distress syndrome in a Chinese population.

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is an often fatal condition for which a genetic predisposition is postulated, although no specific genes have been identified to date. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is postulated to have a role in ARDS. The objective of this study is to explore whether the VEGF+936 genotype is associated with ARDS in a Chinese population. A hospital-based case-control study was conducted in 170 cases of ARDS and 170 controls. Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis was performed to detect the VEGF+936 genotype. Patients with ARDS had a significantly higher frequency of TT genotype (odds ratio=3.85, 95% confidence interval=1.05, 14.06; p=0.04) than controls. The TT genotype was significantly associated with increased mortality from ARDS (odds ratio=5.72, 95% confidence interval=1.20, 27.33; p=0.03). This study suggests that the VEGF+936 TT genotype is a risk factor and may contribute to the prognosis of ARDS in the Chinese population. Further studies are needed to elucidate the mechanism of this association as well as to study its effects on larger populations.