Abstract: Introduction: Low back ache (LBP) or lumbago is one of the commonest patient complaints encountered in clinical practice with about (80%). Lumbar disc degeneration (LDD) is the fundamental driver of low back pain. Vitamin D is considered as a hormone that is responsible for calcium homeostasis and bone mineralization. Vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene is the first reported gene possibly connected with LDD risks. The present study was conducted to pursue the potential correlation between common allelic variants in vitamin D receptor locus and degeneration of the lumbar spine.
Materials & Method: This was a Prospective Case Control Study performed with 30 cases with related complaints and findings, a similar number of age and sex matched controls were included. A detailed performa was prepared and maintained. Blood samples were collected in a standard manner and processed for determination of genotypes of Vit D receptor. DNA processing was done followed by alphabetical designation of the genomes. The findings were arranged as quantitative data and was represented as their mean ± SD while categorical data was expressed in numbers and percentage.
Results: Apart from demographic and other findings it was found that the prevalence of wild genotype (CC) was more prevalent in cases as compared to controls. Prevalence of wild allele (C) was more prevalent in cases as compared to controls and the study shows that C allele was higher in cases with LDD, however both the differences were statistically not significant. The cases with CC genotype, developed LDD at a significantly younger age than cases with TT genotype.
Conclusion: The present study provided useful information regarding common allelic variations in vitamin D receptor locus and degeneration of the lumbar spine. Our study concludes that VDR expression could be used as an important marker for monitoring lumbar disc degeneration in cases with lower back pain.
