Association of VDR‐FokI and VDBP‐Thr420Lys polymorphisms with cervical spondylotic myelopathy: A case‐control study in the population of China

Background Cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM), a common degenerative disorder, is characterized by chronic progressive compression of the cervical spinal cord. The present case‐control study aimed to explore the potential role of VDR‐FokI and VDBP‐Thr420Lys polymorphisms in the susceptibility to CSM in the Chinese population. Methods The study enrolled 318 CSM patients and 282 healthy individuals whose clinical data were retrospectively analyzed. Polymerase chain reaction‐restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR‐RFLP) analysis was used to genotype VDR‐FokI and VDBP‐Thr420Lys polymorphisms. The severity of CSM was assessed using the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of cervical vertebra. A nonconditional binary logistic regression model was conducted for assessing the risk factors of CSM. Results Patients in the CSM group had longer time duration to bend over desk working than the control group. The ff genotype and f allele frequency of VDR‐FokI were elevated in CSM patients. Elevated Ff + ff genotype and f allele frequency of VDR‐FokI might increase the risk of CSM. The VDR‐FokI polymorphism was associated with nucleus pulposus capillary invasion, necrosis, hyaline degeneration and fibrosis, genesis and hyperplasia of cartilage‐like cells, and fibrocyst in the fibrous ring. The VDR‐FokI and VDBP‐Thr420Lys genotypes conformed to Hardy‐Weinberg equilibrium which showed that VDR‐FokI and VDBP‐Thr420Lys had group representation characteristics. Conclusion Binary logistic regression analysis confirmed that VDR‐FokI polymorphism and the time to bend over desk working were risk factors of CSM. Our results indicate that VDR‐FokI polymorphism may be closely associated with the risk of CSM.