THE IMPORTANCE OF ADIPONECTIN GENE POLYMORPHISMS IN THE STABILIZATION OF ATHEROSCLEROTIC PLAQUES

<italic>Objective: Some studies have indicated that adiponectin gene polymorphisms are related to coronary artery disease, and they play a role in the stabilization of atherosclerotic plaques. In this study, we aimed to investigate adiponectin gene polymorphisms in the stabilization of atherosclerotic plaques in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD).</italic> <italic>Methods: One hundred patients who had a myocardial infarction with ST-elevation (Group1) , 100 patients who had a coronary artery bypass graft operation (Group2) , and as the control group , 100 patients (68 males, 32 females, mean age: 54.8 +/- 8.4 years) who had coronary angiography due to suspected CAD and appeared to have normal coronary arteries (Group3) were included in the study. Adiponectin gene polymorphisms (rs 1501299; +276 G > T, rs2241766; +45 T > G) of the participants were determined using real-time polymerase chain reaction method. </italic> <italic>Results: The number of mutant GG base pairs of adiponectin at rs2241766 were smaller in Group 2 when compared to Group 1 and Group 3, and the difference was statistically significant (p=0.0001). Although the G allele frequencies of adiponectin at rs2241766 were similar in Groups 1 and 3 (p > 0.05), the G allele frequencies in Group 2 were smaller when compared to Groups 1 and 3, and the difference was statistically significant (p=0.0001). </italic> <italic>Conclusion: We suppose that adiponectin gene polymorphisms can be interpreted as a risk factor.</italic