CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE

Atherosclerosis, the major cause of coronary artery disease (CAD), has a very long asymptomatic development phase, which begins in childhood. In this study, we describe the Factor V G1691A, Factor V H1299R and prothrombin G20210A gene polymorphisms in children with a family history of premature CAD. Evidence of these polymorphisms in these children may predict the probability of having atherosclerosis in the future. Our study included a total of 140 children, 72 males and 68 females between the ages of 4.9 and 15.7 years. Among these children, 73 had a parental history of premature CAD and the remaining 67 belonged to our control group. The participants were screened for the mutations Factor V G1691 A, Factor V H1299R and prothrombin G20210A by polymerase chain reaction amplified DNA products with specific oligonucleotide probes. Our results suggested that frequencies of the mutated allele of Factor V G1691A and prothrombin G20210A are higher in children with a parental history of premature CAD. In conclusion, Factor V G1691A and prothrombin G20210A polymorphisms which were detected in higher frequencies in children with a parental history of premature CAD may indicate a risk for developing atherosclerosis and might be useful in screening for CAD in children; however, large population-based research is necessary to investigate further genetic risk assessment for CAD. Coron Artery Dis 20:435-439 (C) 2009 Wolters Kluwar Health vertical bar Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

JOURNAL OF CLINICAL LIPIDOLOGY

BACKGROUND: Polymorphisms in the apolipoprotein E (apoE) gene may modulate lipoprotein metabolism and influence plasma lipid levels. Thus, they have been associated with relative risk of coronary artery disease (CAD). OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association of apolipoprotein E polymorphism and lipid levels in children with family history of premature coronary artery disease. METHODS: The apoE genotypes, allele frequencie,s and plasma lipid levels were analyzed in 137 children. Among these children, 70 (study group) had and 67 (control group) did not have a parental history of premature CAD RESULTS: Total cholesterol (TO levels were greater in the study group (P = .04). The frequencies of epsilon 3 epsilon 4 genotype and epsilon 4 allele were significantly greater in the study group (P = 005 for both), The epsilon 2 allele correlated negatively with Tc and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, and e4 had a positive correlation with Tc and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. CONCLUSIONS: Tc levels are influenced by apoE genotypes in childhood. Also, the frequency of the epsilon 4 allele is greater in children with family history of premature CAD. The e4 allele may be associated with an increased risk for development of atherosclerosis by elevated levels of Tc in children with family history of CAD. The evaluation of apoE gene polymorhisms may contribute to the assessment of cardiovascular risk in children with a family history of CAD. (C) 2012 National Lipid Association. All rights reserved