Association between miR-499 rs3746444 polymorphism and ischemic stroke : A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: To explore the generic association between miR-499 rs3746444 polymorphism and ischemic stroke (IS). Methods: We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis, odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to estimate the association quantitively. Results: A total of 6 studies (involving 2569 IS cases and 2645 controls) were included. miR-499 (rs3746444) polymorphism showed a statistically significant association with IS risk in the allelic model (G allele vs A allele), the dominant model (GG+AG vs AA), the recessive model (GG vs AG+AA) and the homozygote model (GG vs AA). ORs of the above 4 models were 1.20 (95%CI: 1.02, 1.40), 1.21 (95%CI: 1.01, 1.46), 1.40 (95%CI: 1.04, 1.88), 1.48 (95%CI: 1.10, 2.00) respectively. The I square of the allelic model and the dominant model was 58% and 59%, indicating large heterogeneity among included studies. By sensitivity analysis, I square of the two models dropped to 34.5% and 38.4%, the ORs were 1.26 (95%CI: 1.13, 1.42) and 1.28 (95%CI: 1.12, 1.46), there was still a statistical association between miR-499 (rs3746444) polymorphism and IS. The heterozygote model (AG vs AA) was not statistically significant, the OR was 1.18 (95%CI: 0.99, 1.42), the I square was 54%. Notably, by sensitivity analysis, I square of the heterozygote model dropped to 34.6%, the OR was 1.25 (95%CI: 1.08, 1.43), indicating a statistically significant association between miR-499 (rs3746444) polymorphism and IS. There was no publication bias for all the models by Egger's test. Conclusion: miR-499 (rs3746444) polymorphisms is associated with the increase of IS risk.