Vegfa rs699947 polymorphism and associated risks of acl injury among indian population: A pilot study

To identify any association between VEGFA (rs699947) and ACL injury susceptibility among non-athletic Indian population. For the present case-control pilot-work, a total of 14 patients with ACL reconstruction (ACLr) were recruited by convenience sampling from Orthopaedic Clinics of North India. Inclusion criteria were: (i) age between 18–40 years, (ii) no multi ligament injuries or signs of osteoarthritis in the knee (iii) no associated co-morbidities. In addition, 14 apparently healthy, unrelated, non-athletic participants without any self-reported history of ligament or tendon injury were recruited as the control group. Through participants’ self-reported information on the mechanism of ACL rupture, they were subdivided into contact (n=7) or non-contact (n=7) injury groups in accordance with the American Orthopedic Society for Sports Medicine classification system. The present study is probably the first among Indian population to investigate the genetic loci contributing to ACL injury risk. Novel evidence of VEGF gene involved in angiogenesis-associated signaling and matrix remodeling, being associated with risk of ACL rupture has been suspected. This SNP in conjugation with other genomic variants should, therefore, be further explored to elucidate their role in the pathobiology of ACL ruptures.