Background: Recently atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease (CAD) are considered to be inflammatory diseases. The genetic polymorphism in inflammatory markers has been well studied and found to be associated with development of CAD.
Aim: To study the association of biallelic polymorphism at position 196 in exon 6 of tumor necrosis factor 2 (TNFR2) gene and coronary artery disease.
Settings and design: The study design was a prospective case control study conducted at a tertiary referral center mainly catering to the north Indian population.
Materials and methods: One hundred and fifty angiographically proven patients with coronary artery disease and one hundred and fifty age matched controls were genotyped for TNFR2 gene by polymerase chain reaction followed by analysis of restriction fragment length polymorphism.
Statistical analysis: Genotype frequencies were compared in patients and controls by Chi-square test. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to examine the relationship between genotypes and disease, incorporating other variables into the model.
Results: The incidence of CAD in those with MM genotype was 65% and in those with RM genotype was 42%. Genotype frequency shows significant association of MM genotype with development of CAD (P < 0.001; odds ratio-2.585; 95% confidence interval 1.533-4.359). The association of TNFR2 genotype with CAD persisted on logistic regression analysis.
Conclusion: MM genotype of TNFR2 gene is associated with development of CAD and RM genotype appears to be protective.