Vitamin K Epoxide Reductase Complex Subunit 1 (VKORC1) Polymorphism and Aortic Calcification: The Rotterdam Study

• Published in: Arteriosclerosis, thrombosis, and vascular biology Vol. 28; no. 4; pp. 771 - 776
• Main Authors: Teichert, M, Visser, L E, van Schaik, R H.N, Hofman, A, Uitterlinden, A G, De Smet, P A.G.M, Witteman, J C.M, Stricker, B H.Ch
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Philadelphia, PA American Heart Association, Inc 01.04.2008; Hagerstown, MD Lippincott
• Subjects: Aged; Alleles; Aorta, Abdominal; Aortic Diseases - enzymology; Aortic Diseases - etiology; Aortic Diseases - genetics; Atherosclerosis (general aspects, experimental research); Biological and medical sciences; Blood and lymphatic vessels; Calcinosis - enzymology; Calcinosis - etiology; Calcinosis - genetics; Cardiology. Vascular system; Cohort Studies; Diseases of the aorta; Diseases of the peripheral vessels. Diseases of the vena cava. Miscellaneous; Female; Gene Frequency; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Mixed Function Oxygenases - genetics; Netherlands; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; Prospective Studies; Risk Factors; Vitamin K Epoxide Reductases; Enzyme; aortic calcification; Cardiovascular disease; VKORC1 polymorphism; Artery; Vascular disease; matrix Gla protein; vitamin K cycle; Blood vessel; Atherosclerosis; Calcification; Aorta; Circulatory system; Oxidoreductases; Polymorphism; Reductase; Vitamin K
• ISSN: 1079-5642; 1524-4636
• DOI: 10.1161/ATVBAHA.107.159913

OBJECTIVE—Besides effects on hemostasis, vitamin K-dependent proteins play a role in bone mineralization and arterial calcification. We investigated the association between the VKORC1 1173C>T polymorphism and calcification of the aortic far wall in a large population-based cohort. METHODS AND RESULTS—Aortic calcification was diagnosed by radiographic detection of calcified deposits in the abdominal aorta. In all cohort members for whom DNA was available, the C1173T SNP of VKORC1 (rs9934438) was determined. With multivariable logistic regression analysis the association between this polymorphism and the risk of aortic calcification was calculated, adjusted for potential confounders. The T allele frequency of the VKORC1 1173C>T polymorphism was 38.8%. 1185 (37.2%) persons were homozygous CC, 1529 (48,0%) were heterozygous CT and 473 (14.8%) were homozygous TT. Persons with at least one T-allele had a statistically significant 19% (95% CI 2 to 40%) risk increase of calcification of the aortic far wall compared to CC homozygous persons, adjusted for age and gender. CONCLUSION—The T-allele of the VKORC1 1173C>T polymorphism was associated with a significantly higher risk of aortic calcification in Whites.