Linkage and association analyses of glaucoma related traits in a large pedigree from a Dutch genetically isolated population

Abstract

Background: Despite extensive research on the genetic determinants of glaucoma, the genes identified to date explain only a small proportion of cases in the general population. Methods: Genome-wide linkage and association analyses of quantitative traits related to glaucoma were performed: intraocular pressure, size and morphology of the optic disc (individual and combined by method of principal components) and thickness of the retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL), in a large pedigree from a genetically isolated Dutch population. Results: For the size of the optic disc, the study demonstrated a significant linkage signal (logarithm of odds (LOD)=3.6) at the LRP1B region on chromosome 2q21.2-q22.2 and significant association (p=8.953×10 -12) with the previously reported CDC7/TGFBR3 locus at 1p22. For parameters describing morphology of the optic disc, the study obtain