1464 subjects, comprising 746 MI cases (under 65 years of age) and 718 controls, were genotyped for the 5-lipoxygenase microsatellite polymorphism by PCR amplification of the promoter region and allele discrimination by capillary electrophoresis.
The distribution of subjects grouped into those homozygote for the common allele, subjects carrying one variant allele, and subjects carrying two variant alleles was similar in cases and controls (cases: 66.9 % /29.8 % /3.3 % , controls: 66.0 % /29.4 % /4.6 % , p = 0.48). The odds ratio for MI for subjects carrying two variant alleles compared to subjects carrying at least one common allele was 0.72 (95 % CI: 0.42–1.22, p = 0.22). The odds ratio was not affected by adjustment for other demographic risk factors.
Despite their association with a marker of atherosclerosis, variant 5-lipoxygenase promoter genotypes are not a major risk factor for MI, at least in Caucasian subjects of Northern European origin.