Association of genetic variants of hemostatic genes with myocardial infarction in Egyptian patients.

Hemostatic genes polymorphisms are well known to be associated with venous thrombosis, but their association with arterial thrombosis especially myocardial infarction (MI) remains to be clarified. We investigated the role of three hemostatic gene polymorphisms, prothrombin G20210A, factor XIII (FXIII) Val34Leu (G/T), and fibrinogen-β-455G/A and their coexistence in Egyptian patients with MI. The possible correlation of these polymorphisms with plasma fibrinogen level was also evaluated. The study included 120 patients with MI and 60 healthy volunteers. Gene polymorphisms were tested using multiplex polymerase chain reaction and reverse-hybridization technique. Plasma fibrinogen level was determined by ELISA. Our study showed an increased risk of MI with fibrinogen β-455G/A heterozygosity as well as FXIII Val34Leu homo and heterozygosity. In addition, the FXIII T allele (Leu34) and fibrinogen β-455A allele were significantly associated with MI. Conversely, the prevalence of prothrombin mutation did not differ between patients with MI and controls. Combined carriers of FXIII Leu34 and fibrinogen-β455A alleles were at higher risk of MI, whereas combined FXIII Val34Leu and prothrombin 20210A polymorphisms did not show increased risk for MI compared with controls. Plasma fibrinogen levels were significantly higher in patients with MI than controls. In MI patients, plasma fibrinogen levels were significantly higher in those with FXIII GT/TT or fibrinogen β-455 GA, while were significantly lower in those with prothrombin 20210 GA compared with patients with wild type genotypes. In conclusion, our results suggest a possible thrombotic predisposition of FXIII Val34Leu, fibrinogen β-455G/A polymorphisms and their coexistence for MI. These polymorphisms may add complexity to disease pathology by increasing plasma fibrinogen level. Extended studies are needed to confirm our results; nevertheless, these data may be implicated in genetic counseling and screening of high-risk individuals.