Article
Open Access
Volume 5 · Issue 4 · 2025
pp. 133–138
Impact of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) rs2010963 Polymorphism on Painful Crisis Frequency in Sickle Cell Anemia
Güner Akgüner1 
, Hasan Kaya2 , Gül İlhan3 , Meral Urhan Küçük4
, Hasan Kaya2 , Gül İlhan3 , Meral Urhan Küçük4
1
Department of Medical Oncology, Etlik City Hospital, Ankara, Türkiye
2
Department of Hematology, Faculty of Medicine, Hatay Mustafa Kemal University, Hatay, Türkiye
3
Department of Hematology, Antalya City Hospital, Antalya, Türkiye
4
Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Hatay Mustafa Kemal University, Hatay, Türkiye
Abstract
Objectives: Sickle cell anemia is a hemoglobinopathy characterized by painful crises. Vascular endothelial growth fac-tor (VEGF) has been implicated in vaso-occlusive pathogenesis. This study aimed to investigate the relationship be-tween the VEGF-A rs2010963 gene polymorphism and the frequency of vaso-occlusive painful crises in patients with sickle cell anemia (SCA).
Methods: In this case-control study, biochemical blood analysis and VEGF-A rs2010963 genotyping were performed using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in 89 patients with SCA and 100 healthy volunteers. The relationship between the frequency of painful crises and genotype distribution was investigated in the patient group.
Results: In the patient group, the mean values of white blood cell count, platelet count, ferritin, C-reactive protein (CRP), and lactate dehydrogenase were significantly higher than those in the control group (p<0.001, p<0.001, p<0.001, p<0.001, and p<0.001, respectively). The genotype distribution of VEGF-A rs2010963 did not differ significantly be-tween the patient and control groups (p=0.164). No relationship was found between genotype distribution and the frequency of painful crises in the patient group (p=0.536).
Conclusion: The VEGF-A rs2010963 polymorphism alone does not appear to predict vaso-occlusive crisis frequency in SCA, highlighting the polygenic nature of pain susceptibility in this disease. Broader genetic and functional analyses are warranted.
Methods: In this case-control study, biochemical blood analysis and VEGF-A rs2010963 genotyping were performed using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in 89 patients with SCA and 100 healthy volunteers. The relationship between the frequency of painful crises and genotype distribution was investigated in the patient group.
Results: In the patient group, the mean values of white blood cell count, platelet count, ferritin, C-reactive protein (CRP), and lactate dehydrogenase were significantly higher than those in the control group (p<0.001, p<0.001, p<0.001, p<0.001, and p<0.001, respectively). The genotype distribution of VEGF-A rs2010963 did not differ significantly be-tween the patient and control groups (p=0.164). No relationship was found between genotype distribution and the frequency of painful crises in the patient group (p=0.536).
Conclusion: The VEGF-A rs2010963 polymorphism alone does not appear to predict vaso-occlusive crisis frequency in SCA, highlighting the polygenic nature of pain susceptibility in this disease. Broader genetic and functional analyses are warranted.
Keywords: Gene, painful crisis, polymorphism, sickle cell anemia
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