Summary
Possession of the coagulation factor XIII Val34Leu (FXIIIVal34Leu) polymorphism is
associated with protection against myocardial infarction (MI) in Caucasians, in the
absence of features of insulin resistance. The role of this polymorphism in the UK
Asian population, with its high prevalence of insulin resistance and ischaemic heart
disease, is unknown. We investigated the frequency of genotypes at this polymorphism,
and measures of circulating FXIII in a group of UK Asians attending for coronary angiography.
Genotype at the FXIIIVal34Leu polymorphism was not associated with MI. FXIII B-subunit
levels correlated with waist: hip ratio (r = 0.19, p 0.005), HbA1c (r = 0.18, p 0.05),
fasting triglycerides (r = 0.21, p 0.005), total cholesterol (r = 0.29, p 0.0005)
and PAI-1 antigen (r = 0.24, p 0.005). An association between FXIIIVal34Leu and FXIII
cross-linking activity was confirmed in these subjects (one-way ANOVA p 0.0005). This
evidence does not support the hypothesis that FXIIIVal34Leu is protective against
MI in the UK Asian population. FXIII B-subunit levels are strongly linked to risk
factors for cardiovascular disease, suggesting an underlying association with insulin
resistance.
Keywords
Polymorphism - ethnicity - cardiovascular disease - factor XIII - risk factors