RESUMEN
Objective To investigate the association between PDE4D gene rs918592 site polymorphisms and both vulnerable plaque and carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) in patients with acute atherosclerotic cerebral infarction.Methods Five hundred and two patients with first onset of cerebral infarction,admitted to our hospital from February 2010 to November 2012,were chosen in our study; polymerase chain reaction-restriction enzyme fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) was adopted to analyze PDE4D gene rs918592 site polymorphisms in these patients.Ultrasound was used to measure CIMT and evaluate the carotid plaques (vulnerable plaque and stable plaque).Results The AA+AG genotype frequency in vulnenrable plaque group was obviously higher than that in stable plaque group (87.0％ vs.75.5％,P=0.006,OR=2.170,95％CI:1.238-3.802).And the A allele frequency in vulnerable plaque group was significantly higher than that in stable plaque group (61.3％ vs.53.4％,P=0.029,OR=1.385,95％CI:1.033-1.856).CIMTs ofGG genotype and AA+AG genotype were (1.17±0.20) mm and (1.19±0.18) mm,respectively (t=0.556,P=0.579).These risk factors,including smoking history (P=0.039,OR=1.753,95％CI:1.029-2.987),low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level (P=0.000,OR=2.537,95％CI:1.599-4.024),and AA+AG genotype in PDE4D gene rs918592 site (P=0.017,OR=2.037,95％CI:1.137-3.651),were finally incorporated into the models of stable plaque group and vulnerable plaque group by non-conditional Logistic regression analysis.Conclusion AA+AG genotype in PDE4D gene rs918592 site is one of potential risk factors contributing the formation of vulnerable plaque in patients with acute atherosclerotic cerebral infarction.The A allele might be a genetic susceptibility gene which leads to carotid plaque rupture.