LACK OF RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE PL(A1) PL(A2) POLYMORPHISM OF PLATELET GLYCOPROTEIN IIIA AND PREMATURE MYOCARDIAL-INFARCTION/

Background The P1(A1)/P1(A2) polymorphism of the platelet glycoprotein IIIa has been variably associated with an increased risk of coronary thrombosis. Materials We investigated the linkage between the P1(A1)/P 1(A2) polymorphism and the risk of myocardial infarction in 98 patient s who suffered their first myocardial infarction at the age of 45 year s or less and 98 well-matched control subjects without, coronary arter y disease. Lipid parameters were measured using conventional methods o f clinical chemistry; PIA genotypes were determined by polymerase chai n reaction and restriction enzyme digestion. Results There was no sign ificant difference in the prevalence of P1(A2)-positive genotypes (eit her p1(A1)/P1(A2) or P1(A2)/P1(A2)) between patients and control subje cts (chi(2) = 0.66, d.f. = 1, P = 0.41). Conclusions These results sug gest that the P1(A2) polymorphism of the platelet glycoprotein IIIa do es not contribute to the genetic susceptibility to premature myocardia l infarction.