Re: "The association between complement component 2/complement factor B polymorphisms and age-related macular degeneration: a HuGE review and meta-analysis"

Complement factor B polymorphism (rs641153) and susceptibility to age-related macular degeneration: evidence from published studies

AIM

To determine whether single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs641153 is associated with the risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), we performed a systematic meta-analysis of 15 eligible studies. SNP in the complement factor B (CFB) gene is considered to have significant association with AMD susceptibility, but there is great discrepancy in these results.

METHODS

The eligible studies were identified by searching the databases of PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to assess the association. All data were analyzed using Stata software.

RESULTS

The association between rs641153 and AMD risk was statistically significant under the homozygous model (AA vs GG:OR=0.26, 95%CI=0.15-0.45, P h=0.973, I (2)=0.0%, fixed effects), dominant model (AA+GA vs GG:OR=0.49, 95%CI=0.40-0.59, P h=0.004, I (2)=56.4%, random effects) and recessive model (AA vs GA+GG:OR=0.30, 95%CI=0.17-0.51, P h=0.983, I (2)=0.0%, fixed effects). The same results were also observed in the stratified analyses by ethnicity, source of control and sample size.

CONCLUSION

Our meta-analysis suggests that rs641153 in the CFB gene may play a protective role in AMD susceptibility, the late AMD in particular, both in Caucasians and in Asians.