Variants in the KCNE1 or KCNE3 gene and risk of Ménière's disease: A meta-analysis.

Background: Ménière's disease (MD) is defined as an idiopathic disorder of the inner ear characterized by the triad of tinnitus, vertigo, and sensorineural hearing loss. Although many studies have evaluated the association between variants in the KCNE1 or KCNE3 gene and MD risk, debates still exist.

Objective: Our aim is to evaluate the association between KCNE gene variants, including KCNE1 rs1805127 and KCNE3 rs2270676, and the risk of MD by a systematic review.

Methods: We searched the literature in PubMed, SCOPUS and EMBASE through May 2015. We calculated pooled odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using a fixed-effects model or a random-effects model for the risk to MD associated with different KCNE gene variants. The heterogeneity assumption decided the effect model.

Results: A total of three relevant studies, with 302 MD cases and 515 controls, were included in this meta-analysis. The results indicated that neither the KCNE1 rs1805127 variant (for G vs. A: OR = 0.724, 95%CI 0.320, 1.638, P= 0.438), nor the KCNE3 rs2270676 variant (for T vs. C: OR = 0.714, 95%CI 0.327, 1.559, P = 0.398) was associated with MD risk.

Conclusions: Based on current evidence from published studies, neither of the two variants from KCNE was significantly associated with the risk of MD. Larger studies with mixed ethnicity subjects and stratified by clinical and sub-clinical characteristics are needed to validate our findings.