Effects of platelet membrane glycoprotein polymorphisms on the risk of myocardial infarction in young males.

Background: Platelet adhesion and aggregation are mediated by specific platelet membrane glycoproteins GPla/IIa, GPlb alpha, and GPIIb/IIIa, and are essential steps in thrombus formation and development of acute myocardial infarction.

Objective: To evaluate the risks exerted by each of the following polymorphisms in young males with AMI: HPA-1a/b in GPIIIa: 807C/T in GPIa; and HPA-2a/b. VNTR and Kozak C/T in GPlb alpha.

Methods: We conducted a case-control study of 100 young males with first AMI before the age of 53 and 119 healthy controls of similar age. All subjects were tested for the above polymorphisms.

Results: The allele frequencies of each of the platelet polymorphisms were not significantly different between the young man with AMI and the controls. Smoking alone was associated with a 9.97-fold risk, and the presence of at least one metabolic risk factor resulted in a 2.57-fold risk of AMI.

Conclusion: The platelet glycoproteins polymorphisms studied are not an independent risk factor for AMI.