Background- Aggregation is the final step in activation of platelets and is mediated by presentation of GPIIb/IIIa receptors on the platelet membrane that binds to fibrinogen and von Willebrand’s factor. There are common mutations in GPIII structure that can change the behavior of the molecule and may change the pattern of interaction between platelets and injured endothelium, thus they can have prognostic impact in coronary artery disease (CAD) and acute coronary syndrome. In some large trials, persons homozygous for the PlA2 allele had a greater chance of coronary stenosis and myocardial infarction (MI) than heterozygotes or non-carriers, but other studies did not confirm this association. This is the first study of PlA polymorphism in Iran and is aimed to find a possible association of this mutation and CAD in the Iranian population.
Method- In this case-control study, we chose 200 patients who underwent diagnostic coronary angiography between 2005 and 2006 in Hamedan, Iran. In these patients HPla genotype determination was done using PCR method.
Results- We found no significant association of coronary artery stenosis and PlA2A2 or PlA1A2 genotypes in our patients, p value>0.05. However, there was a significant association between possession of PlA2 allele and occurrence of CAD in patients more than 50 years of age, p value 0.045.
Conclusion- Variations in PlA phenotype do not seem to have an association with ischemic heart disease, but the PlA2 allele may have a role in the development of atherosclerosis and MI in persons more than 50 years of age.