title: G-455A polymorphism of beta-fibrinogen gene and the risk of premature myocardial infarction in Greece.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There are limited and controversial data regarding the impact of G-455A polymorphism of beta-fibrinogen gene in the pathogenesis of premature myocardial infarction (MI). We examined whether the G-455A polymorphism of beta-fibrinogen gene is associated with the development of MI< or =35 years of age.
  
  
  METHODS
  We recruited 181 consecutive patients who had survived their first acute MI< or =35 years of age (mean age=32.2+/-3.4 years). The control group consisted of 129 healthy individuals matched with cases for age and sex, without a family history of premature coronary heart disease. G-455A polymorphism of beta-fibrinogen was tested with polymerase chain reaction and reverse hybridization.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a higher prevalence of carriers of the A allele (GA+AA genotype) in controls than in patients (odds ratio [OR] 0.57, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.36 to 0.91, p=0.02). G-455A polymorphism of beta-fibrinogen gene was associated with lower risk for acute MI (OR 0.46, 95% CI 0.25 to 0.83, p=0.01) after adjusting for major cardiovascular risk factors. Fibrinogen levels were higher in patients compared to controls [332 (292-385) vs. 311 (262-373) mg/dL, p=0.01], but the adjusted for classical risk factors fibrinogen levels did not differ (OR 1.003, 95% CI 0.99 to 1.01, p=0.37). Patients possessing the A allele did not differ in their fibrinogen and lipid levels compared to patients with the -455GG genotype.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data indicate that the presence of the G-455A polymorphism of beta-fibrinogen gene has a "protective effect" against the development of non-fatal acute MI< or =35 years of age in Greece.
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Cardiology, Attikon Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Athens, Greece. rallidis@ath.forthnet.gr
authors.forename: Loukianos S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Rallidis
authors.forename: Argyri
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gialeraki
authors.forename: Katerina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fountoulaki
authors.forename: Marianna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Politou
authors.forename: Vassilis
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sourides
authors.forename: Anthi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Travlou
authors.forename: Ioannis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Lekakis
authors.forename: Dimitrios T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Kremastinos
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D000483:Alleles; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000150:complications* / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000235:genetics*; D005838:Genotype; D006115:Greece / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D012306:Risk; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D005340:Fibrinogen