The haplotype analyses using multiple markers of the apolipoprotein B gene in patients with coronary artery disease.

The high level of low density lipoprotein (LDL) is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Apolipoprotein (apo) B is a major protein component of LDL and plays an important role in the maintenance of cholesterol homeostasis. In this study, six polymorphic sites of the apoB gene were anlaysed in 235 patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and 216 normal control subjects. There were no significant differences in the allele frequencies of apoB polymorphisms between the control and patient groups. However, haplotype frequencies were significantly different between the CAD patients and control (p<0.05). In addition, the allelic distributions of both EcoRI and MspI polymorphisms in Koreans were similar to those in Chinese but significantly different from those in Caucasians. ApoB polymorphisms showed no association with plasma lipid levels. In conclusion, haplotype analysis of the apoB gene using multiple diallelic markers might be a useful marker for Korean CAD patients.