ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the relationship between the polymorphism of SG13S114 A/T in the 5-lipoxygenase-activating protein (ALOX5AP) gene and the stability of carotid atherosclerosis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Polymorphism of SG13S114 A/T in the ALOX5AP gene was analyzed in 152 cases of acute infarction with stable plaque, and 132 cases of acute infarction with vulnerable plaques, by using polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism. Carotid artery plaque was analyzed by carotid artery color ultrasound.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The frequencies of SG13S114 AA genotype and the A allele in the vulnerable plaque group were higher than that in the stable plaque group (P< 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The polymorphism of SG13S114 A/T in the ALOX5AP gene may be associated with the instability of atherosclerosis. And the SG13S114 A allele may be a risk factor of vulnerable plaques.</p>