Background: Endothelium derived nitric oxide is formed from l-arginine by endothelial nitric oxide synthase encoded by the nitric oxide synthase 3 (NOS3) gene. Nitric oxide possesses a variety of protective effects on endothelial cells and therefore NOS3 is a logical candidate gene to be investigated for the susceptibility of deep vein thrombosis (DVT).
Methods: One hundred consecutive patients (M: F=56:44) with idiopathic deep vein thrombosis and an equal number of age and sex matched healthy controls were the study subjects. All study subjects were typed for five NOS3 polymorphisms (-786C/T, -922A/G, 894G/T, Intron 4 VNTR, and Intron 23 G10T).
Results: Two polymorphisms (-922A/G and 894G/T) are showing their association with DVT. -922A/G shows both genotypic (P=0.0218; chi2=5.25; O.R=1.94) as well as allelic association (P=0.0014; chi2=10.19; O.R=2.0) while 894G/T shows only allelic (P=0.04; chi2=3.93; O.R=3.93) association with DVT.
Conclusion: Susceptibility to DVT in North Indian Asian patients may be associated with some variants of NOS3 gene.
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