INFLUENCE OF THE GENETIC-VARIATION AT APOLIPOPROTEIN-A-I GEN PROMOTERREGION ON THE PLASMA-LIPID LEVELS IN HEART-TRANSPLANTATION PATIENTS

BACKGROUND: TO study if the presence of the G/A polymorphism at the ap o A-I gene promoter region could determine the lipid profile in patien ts with hyperlipidemia after heart transplantation, or if it is relate d with the type of heart disease that determined the transplantation. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study included 31 patients with hyperlipide mia after heart transplantation. Anthropometric parameters, basic anal ytic and lipid study were measured in these subjects. Identification o f the G/A mutation in the promoter region of the apo A-I gene was perf ormed. RESULTS: 22 patients had the G/G genotype and 9 the G/A. 14 wer e transplanted by coronary heart disease and 17 by non ischemic heart disease. Patients with the A allele had higher cHDL (63 [SD 15] vs 53 [10]; p = 0.034) and apo A-I plasma levels (156 [34] vs 132 [24]; p = 0.040) than G/G subjects. The A allele was present in the 18% of the p atients transplanted by isquemic heart disease and in the 43% of the t ransplanted by another ethiology (p=0.073). CONCLUSIONS: The presence of the G/A genotype in the promoter region of the apo A-I gene determi nes higher plasma levels of cHDL in patients with hyperlipidemia after heart transplantation.