8302A/C and (TTA)n polymorphisms in the HMG-CoA reductase gene may be associated with some plasma lipid metabolic phenotypes in patients with coronary heart disease.

HMG-CoA reductase (HMGCR) is a rate-limiting enzyme that participates in cholesterol metabolism. Here we analyzed the 8302A/C and the (TTA)n polymorphisms in the HMGCR gene in 169 Chinese patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) and 161 age-matched controls. Results indicated that the levels of plasma VLDL and TG in patients with the AA genotype of the 8302A/C locus were significantly higher than in patients with other genotypes (P < 0.05). In addition, the frequency of allele A4 of the (TTA)n locus was higher (P < 0.05) and the frequency of allele A5 was lower (P = 0.002) in CHD patients than in the controls. This suggests that both polymorphisms in the HMGCR gene may be associated with lipid and lipoprotein abnormalities in CHD in the Chinese.