The genetic association of vitamin D receptor polymorphisms and cervical spondylotic myelopathy in Chinese subjects.

BACKGROUND

The association of vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene polymorphisms to the lumbar degenerative disc disease has been previously studied; however, the role of VDR gene polymorphisms in cervical spondylosis remains unknown.

METHODS

One hundred fifty four patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) and 156 controls were enrolled. The clinical characteristics were collected and the severity of cervical spondylotic myelopathy was evaluated by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The VDR polymorphism genotyping was performed.

RESULTS

No significant difference in clinical characteristics was noted between the case and controls. For ApaI polymorphism, the cases had a marked higher prevalence of AA genotype (19.5% vs. 8.3%, P=0.003) and A allele frequencies (34.4% vs. 22.4%, P<0.001) than controls. For TaqI polymorphism, the cases had a significant higher prevalence of TT genotype (67.5 vs. 44.2%, P<0.001) and T allele frequencies (76.9% vs. 54.2%, P<0.001) than controls. The odds ratio for CSM was 2.88 for the ApaI A allele carriers and 4.67 for the TaqI T allele carriers. The TaqI genotypes, both TT and TC showed a markedly higher MRI severity grading level than CC genotype (both P<0.01, compared with CC genotype).

CONCLUSION

Certain VDR polymorphism is related in the presence and severity of CSM in Chinese subjects.