Interaction between factor V Leiden and serum LDL cholesterol increases the risk of atherosclerosis.
OBJECTIVE
We investigated the association between the factor V Leiden gene variant and carotid atherosclerosis in a cross-sectional study and explored possible associations between this gene variant and coronary artery disease (CAD) in a case-control study.


METHODS
The presence (n=1696) or absence (n=703) of carotid atherosclerosis were sonographically assessed among participants of the population-based Study of Health in Pomerania (SHIP). The case-control study included 1021 patients with severe CAD and 2791 healthy SHIP participants. The factor V Leiden gene variant was determined by PCR and MnlI digestion.


RESULTS
Multivariable analyses revealed no independent association between the factor V Leiden gene variant per se and carotid atherosclerosis or CAD. In the cross-sectional study, there was an interaction between the factor V Leiden gene variant and serum LDL cholesterol in non-diabetics with respect to the risk of carotid atherosclerosis. In the case-control study a similar interaction was found for CAD. In both studies the atherosclerotic risk increased with rising serum LDL cholesterol concentrations in carriers of the factor V Leiden gene variant.


CONCLUSIONS
The co-existence between the factor V Leiden gene variant and high serum LDL cholesterol is independently associated with the risk of atherosclerosis.
Völzke
Henry
H
Institute of Epidemiology and Social Medicine, Ernst Moritz Arndt University, Walther Rathenau Str. 48, D-17487 Greifswald, Germany. voelzke@uni-greifswald.de
Wolff
Birger
B
Grimm
Rita
R
Robinson
Daniel M
DM
Schuster
Gudrun
G
Herrmann
Falko H
FH
Motz
Wolfgang
W
Rettig
Rainer
R
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000473:pathology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood*; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005165:Factor V / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors
D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; C095381:factor V Leiden; D005165:Factor V