Platelets and fibrinogen might be involved in the pathogenesis of thrombus formation and MI. The Bgl II gene polymorphism of the alpha2beta1 integrin, which is a platelet collagen receptor, and the -455G/A polymorphism in the beta fibrinogen gene have been suggested as genetic risk factors for MI. The aim of this study was to look for a relationship between the -455G/A polymorphism in the beta fibrinogen gene and the development of MI in Caucasians with type 2 diabetes. One hundred and forty-two subjects with type 2 diabetes and MI were compared to 234 diabetic subjects with no history of coronary artery disease. There were no significant differences in the frequency of the Bgl II gene polymorphism or of the -455G/A polymorphism in the beta fibrinogen gene in the patients with MI compared to the patients without MI: Bgl II (+/+) genotype was found in 19.7% of patients with MI and 15.4% of controls and -455GG genotype was found in 58.4% of patients with MI and 57.7% of controls. The present study demonstrates that neither the Bgl II gene polymorphism nor -455G/A polymorphism in the beta fibrinogen gene is a genetic marker for MI in Slovene population (Caucasians) with type 2 diabetes.

Medical Center Medicor Izola Slovenia