Association of thrombomodulin gene polymorphisms and plasma thrombomodulin levels with acute myocardial infarction in north Indian patients

Abstract

This is the first study from north India that investigated the association of thrombomodulin (TM) polymorphisms with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in 350 patients (≤ 40 years, n = 184 and ≥ 60 years, n = 166) and 350 matched-controls. The TM polymorphisms were determined by polymerase chain reaction-single-stranded conformational polymorphism and DNA sequencing. The TM 1418TT genotype (odds ratio [OR] 2.8; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.3-6.4; P = .012) was independent risk predictor of young AMI as were hypertension (OR 3.3; 95% CI 1.8-5.9; P < .001), diabetes mellitus (OR 14.3; 95% CI 2.9-44.6; P = .001), smoking (OR 13.8; 95% CI 7.7-24.7; P < .001), family history (OR 1.8; 95% CI 1.1-3.3; P = .045), high body mass index (OR 2.2; 95% CI 1.3-3.6; P = .002), and high waist-hip ratio (OR 4.1; 95% CI 2.4-7.1; P < .001). Mean plasma TM also showed association with young AMI (P < .001). Smoking carriers of TM 1418CT + TT genotype had significantly higher risk of AMI (OR 12.8; 95% CI 6.0-27.3; P < .001) when compared with nonsmoking noncarriers. In conclusion, TM 1418C/T polymorphism is independent predictor of AMI and synergies with smoking.

Keywords: acute myocardial infarction; polymorphism; smoking; thrombomodulin.