Association between the paraoxonase-1 192Q>R allelic variant and coronary endothelial dysfunction in patients with early coronary artery disease.

Objective: To test the hypothesis that allelic variants of the paraoxonase-1 gene are associated with endothelial dysfunction, an early stage of atherosclerosis.

Patients And Methods: We assessed 192Q>R and 55L>M allelic variants of the paraoxonase gene and coronary endothelial function in response to intracoronary acetylcholine in 99 patients (52 with homozygous QQ, 47 with homozygous RR or heterozygous QR). The study was conducted from September 1, 2002, through November 30, 2004.