Are AHSG polymorphisms directly associated with coronary atherosclerosis?

Background: Fetuin-A (AHSG) has been proposed as a new cardiovascular risk factor. Fetuin-A levels as well as AHSG single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have been associated with intima media thickness and incident vascular events, respectively. However, the association between AHSG variants and angiographically determined coronary artery disease (CAD) has not been reported yet. Therefore, we aimed at investigating the association of AHSG SNPs with angiographically characterized coronary atherosclerosis.

Methods: We genotyped AHSG variants rs4917, rs2248690, rs2518136, and rs2077119 in a cross-sectional study including 1,649 patients undergoing coronary angiography. Significant CAD was diagnosed in the presence of coronary stenoses ≥50%.

Results: Variant rs2077119 deviates significantly from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium and was excluded from further analysis. Neither under an additive, nor under a recessive or dominant model of inheritance, the association between investigated AHSG variants and angiographically determined CAD reached statistical significance. Haplotypes derived from these AHSG variants also were not significantly associated with coronary lesions. Further, no significant associations between investigated SNPs and the extent or severity of CAD could be observed (all p-values>0.05).

Conclusion: Our data do not support a significant direct association between AHSG variants rs4917, rs2248690, and rs2518136 and clinical atherosclerosis as exemplified by angiographically characterized coronary atherosclerosis.