ABSTRACT
There are some reports indicating that the Glu298Asp polymorphism of the endothelial nitric oxide synthase [eNOS] gene is associated with coronary artery disease [CAD]. The aims of the present study were to evaluate possible association between the endothelial nitric oxide synthase [eNOS] gene polymorphism of Glu298Asp [G894T] and occurrence of CAD and diabetes in type II diabetic patients with and without CAD. In this case-control study, the polymorphism of eNOS Glu298Asp was detected using PCR-RFLP method in 203 diabetic patients with/without CAD, 105 CAD patients and 92 healthy subjects according to angiographic evidence. All studied individuals were from Kermanshah, a city in western Iran. The frequencies of three eNOS genotypes of GG, GT and TT were not significantly different in diabetic patients with CAD [53.9%, 40.2% and 5.9%, respectively] compared to those without CAD [59.4%, 35.6% and 5%, respectively, P= 0.730]. But the frequencies of these genotypes in diabetic patients with CAD were significantly different compared to those of control subjects [72.8%, 26.1% and 1.1%, respectively, P=0.013]. Although the frequencies of these genotypes in diabetic patients without CAD were not significantly different compared with those of control subjects [P=0.08], the mutant allele in diabetic patients was seen more. .The eNOS 298Asp mutation is common in diabetic patients with CAD and also in CAD patients from Kermanshah. This might be associated with occurrence of CAD in patients with or without diabetes