Platelet Glycoprotein IIIa PlA1/PlA2 Polymorphism Modulates the Risk of Myocardial Infarction in Non-Diabetics

Background: Genetic polymorphisms of platelet glycoprotein IIIa (GPIIIa gene) have been investigated intensively in several thrombotic diseases, but their role in cardiovascular diseases remains controversial. This study aimed to investigate the association between platelet glycoprotein IIIa PlA1/PlA2 polymorphism and susceptibility to myocardial infarction in non -diabetics. Methods: A total of 200 participants were recruited for the study, 100 non -diabetic patients with myocardial infarction and 100 apparently healthy volunteers as a control group. GPIIIa PlA1/PlA2 polymorphism was analyzed by polymerase chain reaction -restriction fragment length polymorphism. Results: The distribution of GPIIIa PlA1/PlA2 polymorphic genotypes among the study groups was significantly different (P value = 0.00). The PlA1/PlA2 and PlA2/PlA2 genotypes were more frequent in the patients with myocardial infarction while the genotype PlA1/ PlA1 was more prevalent in the control group. There was a statistically significant association between the PlA1/PlA1 genotype and reduced risk of both ST -segment elevation myocardial infarction (odds ratio (OR) = 0.19; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.09 - 0.34, P value = 0.00) and non -ST -segment elevation myocardial infarction (OR = 0.21; 95% CI: 0.09 - 0.45, P value = 0.00). The genotype PlA1/PlA2 was found to be associated with an increased risk of both types of myocardial infarction (OR = 6.0; 95% CI: 2.61 - 13.8, P value = 0.00 for ST -segment elevation myocardial infarction and OR = 6.65; 95% CI: 2.69 - 16.45, P value = 0.00 for non- ST -segment elevation myocardial infarction. In the patients carrying the PlA1/PlA2 genotype, the risk of ST -segment elevation myocardial infarction was increased to about 14 folds in the presence of family history (OR: 13.57, 95% CI: 1.42 - 130.03, P value = 0.02), and the risk of non -ST -segment elevation myocardial infarction increased to about 18 folds in the smokers carrying the genotype PlA2/PlA2 (OR: 17.63, 95% CI: 0.96 - 324.70, P value = 0.05). Conclusions: The GPIII PlA1/PlA1 genotype is associated with a reduced risk of ST -segment elevation and non -ST -segment elevation myocardial infarction, while PlA1/PlA2 is associated with an increased risk of both types of myocardial infarction.