Endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene (T-786C) polymorphism in patients with slow coronary flow.

OBJECTIVES: In this study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between T-786C polymorphism of the endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) gene and slow coronary flow (SCF). STUDY DESIGN: A total of 56 patients with SCF but otherwise normal coronary arteries (mean age 48+/-9 years) and 37 controls with normal coronary angiograms (mean age 50+/-12 years) were enrolled in the study. Screening for the eNOS T-786C polymorphism was performed by restriction fragment length polymorphism methodology. RESULTS: In normal coronary artery and SCF groups, TT genotype frequency was 23 (62.2%) versus 22 (39.3%), TC heterozygote genotype frequency was 11 (29.7%) versus 30 (53.6%), and CC homozygote genotype frequency was 3 (8.1%) versus 4 (7.1%), respectively (P=0.07). In dominant model statistical analysis, total CC and CT genotype frequency in control and study groups was found to be 14 (37.3%) versus 34 (60.7%), respectively (P=0.025). A positive correlation was found between the mean thrombolysis in myocardial infarction frame count and C allele in patients with SCF (r=0.21, P=0.043). CONCLUSION: We concluded that the T-786C polymorphism of eNOS gene might be a risk factor for the SCF.