Cholesteryl Ester Transfer Protein Taq1B Polymorphism in an Angiographically Assessed Turkish Population: No Effects on Coronary Artery Disease Risk

Background: Taq1B polymorphism of cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) is believed to associate with high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) levels and may alter the susceptibility to atherosclerosis. Aim of the Study: This study investigated the effects of Taq1B polymorphism on HDL-C and coronary artery disease (CAD) risk in angiographically defined CAD patients. Methods: One hundred thirty-five CAD patients and 112 healthy controls were screened for the CETP Taq1B genotype and plasma lipids. Results: The genotype frequency of CAD patients and controls were similar. The HDL-C levels of all genotypes in the CAD group were significantly lower than the corresponding controls. Smoking and plasma triglycerides were the predictors of the HDL-C level in B1B1 bearers, whereas the subjects with a polymorphic B2 allele were affected by smoking and sex. Conclusion: CETP Taq1B polymorphism neither plays a role in determining HDL-C levels nor is a useful predictor of the risk of CAD.