The apo A-I gene promoter region polymorphism determines the severity of hyperlipidemia after heart transplantation.
BACKGROUND
To study whether the Apolipoprotein A-I (apo A-I) promoter region gene polymorphism produces changes in the lipid profile of heart transplant recipients.


METHODS
One hundred and three heart transplant recipients (93 men and 10 women, with a mean age of 47 +/- 13 yr) receiving triple immunosuppressive therapy were submitted to a genetic study of the apo A-I gene promoter region. Anthropometric and analytical data, including lipid profile, arterial blood pressure, were collected prior to transplantation and 3, 6, 12, and 24 months after transplantation.


RESULTS
Sixty-three subjects had the GG genotype and 40 the GA genotype. Carriers of the GA genotype had higher triglyceride levels at 6 months and 2 yr (2.50 +/- 1.20 versus 1.93 +/- 0.98 mmol/L and 2.46 +/- 1.58 versus 1.60 +/- 0.68 mmol/L, respectively, p < 0.001), and a greater rise in LDL-cholesterol at 1 yr than the GG subjects (4.57 +/- 1.16 versus 4.16 +/- 1.18 mmol/L, p < 0.05). Multiple regression analyses showed that genetic variants at the apo A-I promoter region are responsible for 11% of the variability in triglyceride levels at 6 months (p = 0.005).


CONCLUSIONS
The GA genotype of the apo A-I promoter region produces a greater rise in plasma triglyceride and LDL-cholesterol levels in heart transplant patients.
González-Amieva
Angel
A
Unidad de Lípidos y Arteriosclerosis, Departamento de Medicina Interna, Hospital Universitario Reina Sofía, Córdoba, Spain.
López-Miranda
José
J
Marín
Carmen
C
Pérez-Martinez
Pablo
P
Gómez
Purificación
P
Paz-Rojas
Elier
E
Arizón
Josè M
JM
Jiménez-Perepérez
José A
JA
Concha
Manuel
M
Pérez-Jiménez
Francisco
F
D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I / Q000235:genetics*; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D016027:Heart Transplantation; D006801:Humans; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics*; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D011446:Prospective Studies
D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents