The Role of Genetic Polymorphism in the Pathogenesis of Chronic Venous Insufficiency

Abstract

Chronic venous diseases (CVD), including varicose veins, are among the most common diseases in developed countries in Europe and the United States and affect one third to one half of the population, especially women. Among many achievements in the knowledge of the pathogenesis of achievements, it should be noted the identification of the role of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) as important mediators of the degenerative process associated with the onset and progression of venous insufficiency. The study included 98 patients aged 20 to 78 years with chronic venous insufficiency, including, in accordance with the CEAP classification, 45 patients with moderate CVI (class C3–C4) and 53 patients with severe CVI (class C5–C6). The results obtained in the course of the study reliably indicate the presence of an association between the carriage of the Arg allele and the Gln/Arg and Arg/Arg genotypes of the Gln279Arg polymorphism in the MMP9 gene with the risk of developing complicated forms of CVI.