Association of androgen receptor gene CAG and GGN repeat polymorphism with cryptorchidism: A meta-analysis.

Researches on association between variations in the androgen receptor (AR) gene repeat polymorphisms and cryptorchidism (CO) had conflicting results. The aim of this meta-analysis was to analyse the potential effects of ARCAG and/or GGN repeat polymorphism on CO. Studies were independently appraised by two investigators on PubMed, Web of Science, EBSCO databases and Foreign Medical Retrieval System. Case-control studies with measurement of CAG and/or GGN repeat length were included. Weighted mean difference (WMD) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the CAG or GGN repeat polymorphism and CO were calculated. Five reports were included in this analysis. Overall, no difference was identified between patients and fertile men in CAG repeat length. However, when the CO was divided into unilateral and bilateral, longer CAG repeat region was significantly associated with CO in bilateral group (WMD=0.74; 95% CI, 0.01-1.47; p<.05). In addition, GGN lengths were significantly higher in patients compared with those in controls (WMD=1.17; 95% CI, 0.28-2.06; p<.05). No obvious effect was found in the GGN length when compared unilateral or bilateral group with control respectively. The results in this meta-analysis indicated that ARCAG and GGN repeat polymorphisms may be an important pathogenesis of CO.