AIM: To explore the association between the polymorphism rs2511989 in the classical pathway geneSERPING1(C1 inhibitor)and age-related macular degeneration(AMD).

METHODS: A random-effect Meta-analysis was performed. An electronic search was done in CNKI, PubMed, the Cochrane Collaboration's Database, Embase, and the ISI Web of Knowledge. Odds ratios(OR)and their 95% confidence interval(CI)were calculated to assess the strength of association between SERPING1 rs2511989 polymorphism and AMD susceptibility. Heterogeneity, sensitivity analysis and publication bias were also tested.

RESULTS: A total of 15 case-control studies with 8657 cases and 5393 controls were finally included in this Meta-analysis. There was no significant association between SERPING1 and AMD in all genetic models.(Dominant model: OR=0.960, 95%CI: 0.918-1.003, P=0.009; recessive model: OR=0.898, 95%CI: 0.791-1.019, P=0.035; homozygote model: OR=0.881, 95%CI: 0.770-1.008, P=0.003; heterozygote model: OR=0.962, 95%CI: 0.917-1.010, P=0.050). However, the associations between SERPING1 and neovascular AMD were significant in three models(dominant model: OR=0.691, 95%CI: 0.547-0.872; homozygote model: OR=0.661, 95%CI: 0.450-0.971; heterozygote model: OR=0.754, 95%CI: 0.589-0.964). Subgroup analysis by ethnicity and country did not find significant association between rs2511989 polymorphism and AMD susceptibility.

CONCLUSION: SERPING1 rs2511989 does not associates with AMD generally but may associate with neovascular AMD. More studies are required to verify the hypothesis.