ANALYSIS OF GENETIC POLYMORPHISMS RELATED TO THROMBOSIS AND OTHER RISK-FACTORS IN PATIENTS WITH RETINAL VEIN OCCLUSION

The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of genetic polym orphisms associated with venous and arterial thrombosis in patients wi th retinal vein occlusion (RVO). One-hundred and two consecutive patie nts with RVO were examined for factor V G1691A and factor II G20210A, methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T and apolipoprotein E -4 by amplification of specific DNA fragments and restriction analysis . The risks exerted by these polymorphisms and by the conventional ris k factors of RVO were evaluated by comparing their frequencies among p atients and controls and by estimating the respective odds ratios. We found that the prevalences of the factor V G1691A, factor ZI G20210A, and apolipoprotein E-4 polymorphisms were similar in the study and con trol groups. Logistic regression analysis involving the parameters far which significant differences were detected disclosed an odds ratio o f 1.9 for MTHFR C677T homozygosity (95% confidence interval 0.95-3.81) , an odds ratio of 2.12 for hypertension (95% confidence interval 1.16 -3.73) and an odds ratio of 3.25 for a family history of stroke (95% c onfidence interval 1.07-9.51). Our data suggests that homozygosity for the MTHFR C677T polymorphism is a risk factor of RVO in addition to a rterial hypertension and a family history of stroke. (C) 1998 Lippinco tt Williams & Wilkins.