Polymorphism of the palladin gene and cardiovascular outcome in patients with atherosclerosis.
BACKGROUND
A single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the palladin gene (PALLD, rs7439293) has recently been reported to be associated with coronary heart disease (CHD) in two case-control studies as well as in a large population-based cohort (Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study, ARIC). Its clinical relevance, however, has not been evaluated prospectively. We investigated whether the risk allele (A) of PALLD rs7439293 (G>A) is associated with the occurrence of future major cardiovascular events (MACE) in a cohort of patients with prevalent carotid atherosclerosis.


METHODS
A total of 1283 consecutive patients with neurologically asymptomatic carotid atherosclerosis were included in the study and prospectively followed for a median of 3·5 years (interquartile range 3-4 years). We analysed whether the risk allele is associated with progression of carotid atherosclerosis after a 6-9-month period as measured by duplex Doppler sonography. Patients were then followed for the occurrence of a first MACE, a composite of myocardial infarction, stroke, coronary revascularization and death.


RESULTS
After a median of 7·5 months (interquartile range 6-9 months), progression of carotid stenosis was observed in 103 (8·1%) patients. Cardiovascular events occurred in 337 (30%) patients after a median follow-up of 3·5 years. The risk allele of PALLD was neither associated with progressive carotid atherosclerosis (P = 0·21) nor with MACE (P = 0·58). Adjusted hazard ratios for a first MACE in heterozygous and homozygous carriers were 0·83 (95% CI 0·58-1·18) and 0·94 (95% CI 0·65-1·35) compared to wild type, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
The A-allele of PALLD rs7439293 was not associated with progressive carotid atherosclerosis as measured by duplex Doppler sonography nor did it represent a risk factor for adverse cardiovascular outcome among patients with prevalent carotid atherosclerosis.
Division of Angiology, Department of Internal Medicine II, Medical University, Vienna, Austria. matthias.hoke@meduniwien.ac.at
Matthias
M
Hoke
Martin
M
Schillinger
Petra
P
Dick
Markus
M
Exner
Renate
R
Koppensteiner
Erich
E
Minar
Wolfgang
W
Mlekusch
Oliver
O
Schlager
Oswald
O
Wagner
Christine
C
Mannhalter
D000368:Aged; D000483:Alleles; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000235:genetics; D001317:Austria; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000235:genetics*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000235:genetics*; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000235:genetics*; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / Q000235:genetics*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D044465:White People
D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; C412722:PALLD protein, human; D010750:Phosphoproteins