Genetic and other intrinsic factors influencing risk for elbow tendinopathy

Resumen

Many extrinsic and intrinsic factors have been attributed to increased risk of tendinopathy; however, most research has been done on the tendons of the lower limbs, and very few have examined risk factors for tendinopathy of the elbow. Recent research on tendinopathy has focused on the role of certain genetic polymorphisms in tendinopathy risk, especially genes involved in collagen synthesis and regulation. The aim of this study was to test for a relationship between certain collagen gene single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and elbow tendon pathology. In this case-control study, 137 young adult athletes whose sports participation involves loading of the upper limb were examined for the presence of structural abnormalities indicative of pathology in the tendons of the lateral and medial elbow using ultrasound imaging and genotyped for the following SNPs: COL5A1 rs12722, COL11A1 rs3753841, COL11A1 rs1676486, and COL11A2 rs1799907. Anthropometric measurements and data on participants’ elbow pain and dysfunction were also collected. Participants in the structural abnormality group had significantly higher scores in pain and dysfunction. A significant relationship between COL11A1 rs3753841 genotype and elbow tendon pathology was found, with the CT variant associated with increased risk of pathology.