Abstract
Aim:
To investigate the relation between vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) gene polymorphism in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients and lupus related neuropsychiatric manifestations.
Patients and methods:
Sixty adult SLE patients recruited from the Rheumatology and Neurology departments of Cairo University hospitals were classified into two groups; Group A: 30 patients with neuropsychiatric manifestations (NPSLE) and Group B: 30 patients without. For both groups the SNP G1612A (rs10434) of the VEGF gene was genotyped by real time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).
Results:
Statistically significant difference was found in genotype and allele frequencies between both groups (AA [70% vs 13.3%, p < 0.001] and GG [10% vs 66.7%, p < 0.001]).
Conclusion:
Polymorphism in the gene coding for VEGF may be associated with increased incidence of neuropsychiatric lupus in SLE patients.
Keywords:
SLE; VEGF; G1612A (rs10434) gene; Polymorphism; Neuropsychiatric manifestations