BMP-4 polymorphisms in the susceptibility of cervical spondylotic myelopathy and its outcome after anterior cervical corpectomy and fusion

Abstract

Background: To investigate the association between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of bone morphogenic proteins-4 (BMP-4) gene and the susceptibility of cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) and its outcome after surgical treatment. Method: A total of 499 patients with CSM and 602 healthy volunteers were recruited. 425 CSM patients received anterior cervical corpectomy and fusion (ACF) and were follow-up until 12 months. The SNPs of BMP-4 were determined. Results: For 6007C > T polymorphism, the cases had a significant lower prevalence of TT genotype than controls. With the CC genotype as reference, the TT genotype carriages significantly influence the CSM risk. The T allele carriage represented a higher risk for CSM as well. The TT of 6007C>T polymorphisms is also associated with higher chance to gain improvement from ACF surgery. The T allele carriage of 6007C>T had markedly higher chance to have a better post-operative outcome compared with C allele carriage. The genotype and allele distributions of -5826G>A polymorphism did not show positive association with risk and outcome of CSM in this study. Conclusion: BMP-4 genetic polymorphisms may be used as a molecular marker for the CSM susceptibility and its postoperative outcome in those underwent surgical treatment.