THE 4 A/B POLYMORPHISM OF THE ENOS GENE AS A MARKER FOR MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION IN TYPE 2 DIABETES

Abstract

Introduction: Endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) affects nitric oxide (NO) level in the blood vessel wall, and therefore eNOS might be considered as candidate gene for myocardial infarction (MI). To investigate the impact of genetic polymorphisms of eNOS on MI in Slovenian population with type 2 diabetes, we searched for the association between the 4a/b polymorphism of the eNOS gene and MI in subjects with type 2 diabetes.

Methods: One hundred and fifty nine subjects with type 2 diabetes and MI were compared to 290 diabetic subjects without coronary artery disease (CAD). Chi-square test was used to compare discrete variables, and continuous clinical data were compared by unpaired students t test.

Results: In this study the AA genotype of the eNOS 4a/b polymorphism was not associated with MI in diabetics (OR = 1.3, 95% CI 0.6-2.8, P = 0.5).

Conclusion: We failed to demonstrate that the 4a/b polymorphism of the eNOS gene was associated with MI in Slovene type 2 diabetic patients, therefore it may not be used as a genetic marker for MI in Slovene type 2 diabetic patients.