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

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.