Genetic polymorphisms, lipoproteins and coronary artery disease risk

Association studies between gene variants (polymorphisms) and measured inte rmediate phenotypes, such as lipid/ lipoprotein levels, or disease endpoint s such as coronary artery disease, are commonplace in the literature. But h ave we learnt anything from the shortcomings in study design and analytical strategies that have resulted in much controversy in this field over the l ast few years? This review highlights some of these problems. Using the lip oprotein lipase gene as an example, we evaluate new approaches to identifyi ng polymorphisms that will stand up to linkage disequilibrium/association s tudies with complex disorders in this post Human Genome Project age, and em phasize the importance of gene-environment interaction in assessing the imp act of gene variants. Curr Opin Lipidol 12:405-409. (C) 2001 Lippincott Wil liams & Wilkins.