Context: Previous studies reported an association of certain polymorphisms in the lipoprotein lipase (LPL) gene with the risk of coronary artery disease (CAD); however, these studies were small and inconsistent. In addition, none of these studies attempted to establish such an association in the Arab population.
Objective: To determine whether 2 LPL polymorphisms (LPL-HindIII and LPL-PvuII located on introns 8 and 6, respectively, of the LPL gene) can be considered as independent risk factors or as predictors for CAD in Arabs.
Design: We used polymerase chain reaction and restriction enzyme digestion to determine the distribution of the LPL-HindIII and LPL-PvuII polymorphisms among healthy blood donors of Arabic origin (BD group) and angiographically confirmed CAD patients (CAD group) with identical ethnic backgrounds.
Results: For the HindIII genotypes, within the BD group (n = 410), the +/+ genotype was found in 206 individuals (50.2%), 173 (42.2%) carried the +/- genotype, and 31 (7.6%) carried the -/- genotype. Within the CAD group (n = 352), the +/+ genotype was found in 189 individuals (53.7%), 138 (39.2%) carried the +/- genotype, and 25 (7.1%) carried the -/- genotype. P values of.38,.45, and.92 were obtained for the +/+, +/-, and -/- genotypes, respectively. For the PvuII genotypes, within the BD group (n = 511), the +/+ genotype was found in 182 individuals (35.6%), 248 (48.5%) carried the +/- genotype, and 81 (15.9%) carried the -/- genotype. Within the CAD group (n = 431), the +/+ genotype was found in 138 individuals (32%), 225 (52.2%) carried the +/- genotype, and 68 (15.8%) carried the -/- genotype. P values of.28,.29, and.98 were obtained for the +/+, +/-, and -/- genotypes, respectively. The distribution and the allele frequency of these 2 LPL variants were similar in CAD and BD study groups and followed the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium.
Conclusion: There was no difference in the distribution of both LPL polymorphisms between the healthy group and the CAD group. Therefore, these 2 LPL polymorphisms cannot be considered as independent risk factors or as predictors for CAD in this population.