Association of vitamin D receptor gene Taql, Fokl and Apal variants with arteriovenous fistula failure in hemodialysis patients

Purpose: We investigated the influence of the vitamin D receptor gene Taql (rs731236), Apal (rs7975232), and Fokl (rs2228570) polymorphisms in arteriovenous fistula failure in hemodialysis patients. Methods: This study was carried out with 54 patients who experienced two or more fistula failures in the late period after arteriovenous fistula operation and 58 control patients with no history of arteriovenous fistula failure in 3years or longer. The polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism method was used to determine the vitamin D receptor Taql, Fokl, and Apal polymorphisms. Results: For vitamin D receptor gene Taql and Fokl polymorphisms, no significant association was found between the two groups (p>0.05). However, a statistically significant association was determined for Apal polymorphism between the two groups (p = 0.02). In patients, Apal AA, AC, and CC genotype frequencies were found as 21 (38.9%), 32 (59.3%), and I (1.8%), respectively. However, genotype frequencies of AA, AC, and CC in the control group were 29 (50%), 22 (37.9%), and 7 (12.1%), respectively. In all three polymorphisms, no significant difference was found between the two groups in terms of allele frequencies (p>0.05). Conclusion: Vitamin D receptor Apal AC genotype may be a possible cardiovascular risk factor for the development of arteriovenous fistula failure.