CC chemokine receptor (CCR)2 polymorphism in Czech patients with myocardial infarction

Examining an association between myocardial infarction (MI) and the Val/Ile polymorphism in the gene for CC chemokine receptor (CCR)2 at the position 64 (CCR2-V64I), 122 MI Czech patients and 277 unrelated control (C) subjects were genotyped by PCR-SSP. The frequency of the VI genotype of CCR2-V64I was increased in MI patients in comparison with the control Population (P = 0.03). Further analysis revealed that relationship between the VI genotype and MI is specific only for females and, strikingly, this genotype was associated to an early MI onset (before or at the age of 50 years). Females with the VI genotype were seven times more prone to suffer from MI before 50 years than those with the VV genotype (P < 0.01). If the VI genotype of the CCR2-V64I is indeed a risk factor for an earlier MI onset in females must be checked by independent studies in other centres and/or populations. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.