J Rheum Dis.  2025 Apr;32(2):122-129. 10.4078/jrd.2024.0103.

Circulating VEGF levels and genetic polymorphisms in Behçet’s disease: a meta-analysis

• Lee YH
• Song GG

• KMID: 2566236
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4078/jrd.2024.0103

Abstract

Objective
This study aimed to explore the relationship between circulating vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels and Behçet’s disease (BD), as well as to examine the association between VEGF gene polymorphisms and BD.
Methods
We conducted a comprehensive search of the MEDLINE, Embase, and Web of Science databases to identify relevant research articles. A meta-analysis was performed to compare serum or plasma VEGF levels in BD patients with those in control groups. Additionally, we evaluated the potential associations between BD susceptibility and specific VEGF polymorphisms, namely –634 C/G, +936 C/T, and the 18 bp insertion/deletion (I/D) at –2549.
Results
The analysis included 15 studies with a total of 1,020 BD patients and 1,031 controls. BD patients exhibited significantly higher circulating VEGF levels compared to controls (standardized mean difference [SMD]=1.726, 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.030~2.421, p<0.001). Elevated VEGF levels were noted among BD patients from European and Arab populations. Subgroup analysis further confirmed the increase in VEGF levels across different data types and sample sizes. Patients with active BD had higher VEGF levels than those with inactive BD (SMD=0.635, 95% CI=0.092~1.177, p=0.022). However, no significant association was found between BD and the VEGF –634 C allele (odds ratio=1.023, 95% CI=0.707~1.481, p=0.904). Similarly, no association was detected between BD and the VEGF +936 C/T or 18 bp I/D at –2549 polymorphisms.
Conclusion
Our meta-analysis showed a strong association between elevated circulating VEGF levels and BD. However, the VEGF polymorphisms examined in this study do not appear to be associated with susceptibility to BD.

Keyword

Behçet’s disease; Vascular endothelial growth factor; Polymorphism; Meta-analysis

Figure

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  Figure 1 Flowchart depicting the process of study selection. VEGF: vascular endothelial growth factor.

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  Figure 2 Meta-analysis examining (A) the relationship between BD and circulating VEGF levels, as well as (B) the comparison between active and inactive BD groups. BD: Behçet’s disease, VEGF: vascular endothelial growth factor, CI: confidence interval.

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  Figure 3 Meta-analysis of ORs with 95% CIs, showing results from individual studies and the combined data, focused on the allelic association between BD and VEGF polymorphisms (A) –634 C/G, (B) +936 C/T, and (C) 18 bp I/D at –2549. BD: Behçet’s disease, VEGF: vascular endothelial growth factor, I/D: insertion/deletion, OR: odds ratio, CI: confidence interval.

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