APOLIPOPROTEIN E4, LIPOPROTEIN-LIPASE C-447 AND ANGIOTENSIN-I-CONVERTING-ENZYME DELETION ALLELES WERE NOT ASSOCIATED WITH INCREASED WALL THICKNESS OF CAROTID AND FEMORAL ARTERIES IN HEALTHY-SUBJECTS FROM THE STANISLAS COHORT

Studies have shown contrasting results concerning the relation between carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and apolipoprotein E (apo E) and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) polymorphisms. Subjects, 76 men a nd 74 women, between 33 and 50 years, without any history of cardiovas cular disease and without any anti-hypertensive or lipid lowering medi cation were selected from the Stanislas cohort. The IMT of carotid and femoral arteries were investigated by B-mode ultrasonography. The com mon apo E, (C/G)(447) lipoprotein lipase (LPL) and I/D ACE gene polymo rphisms and serum ACE activity were determined. In the overall sample? male sex, age, systolic blood pressure, BMI, serum apo B level and to bacco consumption were positively correlated with carotid and femoral IMT. The common apo E polymorphism? the (C/G)LPL447 polymorphism and A CE activity were not related to carotid and femoral IMT variability in either men or women. Unexpectedly, the I allele of the ACE gene was r elated to higher femoral IMT than the D allele in non-smokers only. Si milar results were observed after adjustment for the main covariates o f IMT variability. In conclusion, amongst our young adult sample the c andidate risk factors for cardiovascular disease, apo epsilon 4, C-437 -LPL and D-ACE alleles and ACE activity were not associated with incre ased carotid and femoral IMT. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. A ll rights reserved.