The haptoglobin 2-2 genotype is associated with carotid atherosclerosis in 64-year old women with established diabetes.
BACKGROUND
Haptoglobin polymorphism generates three common human genotypes: Hp1-1, Hp2-1 and Hp2-2. Among subjects with diabetes, Hp2-2 is associated with an elevated risk to develop cardiovascular disease. The impact of haptoglobin genotype on subclinical carotid atherosclerosis is not known. We hypothesized that Hp2-2 was associated with increased occurrence of carotid atherosclerosis in subjects with diabetes.


METHODS
We studied a population-based sample of 64-year old women with diabetes (n=226), either established diabetes known before study entry (n=116) or new diabetes detected at study screening (n=110). Haptoglobin genotype was determined by PCR. Carotid atherosclerosis was assessed by ultrasound imaging.


RESULTS
In the entire diabetes cohort, no differences were observed in carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) or plaque prevalence between the genotype groups. However, among those with established diabetes, Hp2-2 was associated with higher plaque prevalence and larger carotid IMT compared with the Hp2-1 and Hp1-1 genotypes. Common cardiovascular risk factors did not differ between the genotype groups.


CONCLUSIONS
The Hp2-2 genotype was associated with increased occurrence of subclinical carotid atherosclerosis in 64-year old women with established diabetes. This association was not explained by traditional risk factors for cardiovascular disease. These results extend previous observations that Hp2-2 is associated with clinical cardiovascular disease in diabetes.
Ryndel
Mikael
M
Center for Cardiovascular and Metabolic Research, Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Sweden.
Behre
Carl Johan
CJ
Brohall
Gerhard
G
Prahl
Ulrica
U
Schmidt
Caroline
C
Bergström
Göran
G
Fagerberg
Björn
B
Olson
Fredrik J
FJ
D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000235:genetics*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006242:Haptoglobins / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged
D006242:Haptoglobins