Analysis of the impact of VEGF gene variants rs699947, rs833061, and rs3025039 on diabetic retinopathy in a case–control study

Introduction The aim was to uncover potential associations between the VEGF gene variants rs699947, rs833061, and rs3025039 and diabetic retinopathy (DR).Methods A total of 202 individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) were divided into three groups: controls (T2DM without retinopathy), non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR), and proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). Genotyping was performed using the PCR-RFLP assay.Results Allele and genotype frequencies did not show any significant difference among three groups (p > 0.05, all). Under recessive model in NPDR group CA genotype of rs699947 exhibited significantly lower HbA1c (%) and HbA1c (mmol) levels (p = 0.049, p = 0.048, respectively) compared to CC and AA genotypes. Under dominant model in NPDR group of rs699947, HbA1c (%) and HbA1c (mmol) levels were significantly higher in variant allele carriers compared to normal genotypes (p = 0.03, p = 0.031, respectively). Fasting plasma glucose (FPG) levels of normal rs699947 genotypes were significantly higher compared to variant genotypes in NPDR and PDR groups (p = 0.047, p = 0.023, respectively). Logistic regression analysis showed that the variations examined do not affect DR (p > 0.05, all).Conclusion In conclusion, as the first study in the studied ethnicity, we did not observe any association between DR an VEGF gene variations rs699947, rs833061, and rs3025039.