C-reactive protein 3′ UTR +1444C>T polymorphism in patients with spontaneous venous thromboembolism

• Published in: Atherosclerosis 2006-10, Vol.188 (2), p.406-411
• Main Authors: Vormittag, R., Funk, M., Mannhalter, C., Schönauer, V., Vukovich, T., Minar, E., Bialonczyk, C., Hirschl, M., Pabinger, I.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Atherosclerosis (general aspects, experimental research); Austria; Biological and medical sciences; Blood and lymphatic vessels; Blood. Blood coagulation. Reticuloendothelial system; C-reactive protein; C-Reactive Protein - genetics; C-Reactive Protein - metabolism; C-reactive protein 3′ UTR (+1444) C>T polymorphism; Cardiology. Vascular system; Diseases of the peripheral vessels. Diseases of the vena cava. Miscellaneous; Female; Genetic Predisposition to Disease; Homozygote; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Polymorphism, Genetic; Pulmonary embolism; Pulmonary Embolism - genetics; Venous thrombosis; Venous Thrombosis - genetics
• ISSN: 0021-9150; 1879-1484
• DOI: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2005.11.006

Data on C-reactive protein (CRP) as a risk indicator of venous thromboembolism are conflicting. A recent study reported higher CRP levels in homozygous carriers of a novel CRP gene polymorphism at the 3′ UTR (CRP +1444C>T). We investigated, whether homozygosity for CRP +1444C>T is associated with an increased risk of spontaneous venous thromboembolism (VTE). CRP +1444C>T genotype and plasma levels were assessed in 128 patients with deep venous thrombosis (DVT, 70 females/58 males), 105 with pulmonary embolism (PE, 58 females/47 males) and 122 healthy individuals (60 females/62 males). CRP +1444TT was significantly associated with increased CRP plasma levels in healthy individuals. CRP +1444TT was more frequent (14%) among controls than DVT patients (9%, p = 0.26) or PE patients (6%, p = 0.05), respectively. No significant deviation from Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium was observed in patients ( p = 0.8) or controls ( p = 0.3), respectively. CRP +1444C>T was not significantly associated with CRP levels in patients with VTE. Homozygous carriers of the CRP 3′ UTR +1444C>T polymorphism do not have a significantly increased risk of VTE. Our data support the assumption that a clinically relevant association between CRP and VTE is missing.