Wu Z, et al. – In this meta–analysis, the researchers explored the role ADAM12 polymorphism in osteoarthritis (OA). In investigations, ADAM12 rs3740199 polymorphism was appeared to be associated with OA susceptibility among male patients, other than the general population. However, further research work was required to confirm these findings.

Methods

• For this analysis, case–control studies on the association between OA susceptibility and ADAM12 polymorphism were comprehensively accumulated by searching PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science.
• To assess OA risk that was possibly conferred byADAM12 variant, odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were pooled.
• The analyses were performed not only among general population but also in male and female groups.

Results

• This meta–analysis consisted of 8 studies with 10 populations.
•  In the general population, 4 comparisons were carried out (C allele vs G allele, CC vs GG, GC + CC vs GG, and CC vs GC + GG) and found that ADAM12 rs3740199 polymorphism was not associated with increased OA vulnerability.
• On the other hand, the analyses stratified by gender made 5 comparisons (C allele vs G allele, CC vs GG, GC vs GG, GC + CC vs GG, and CC vs GC + GG).
• It was shown that rs3740199polymorphism (GC + CC vs GG) was a risk factor for OA among male patients (OR =1.45, 95% CI =1.04–2.01). 
• Sensitivity analysis indicated that it was an unstable outcome.
• In women, no correlation was identified.
• In the analyses mentioned above, neither heterogeneity nor publication bias was detected.