Apolipoprotein A5 polymorphisms and risk of coronary artery disease: a meta-analysis

The relation has not been reported consistently between the polymorphisms in the gene of apolipoprotein A5 (APO A5) and coronary artery disease (CAD). To clarify the discrepancy, we conducted a comprehensive search of PubMed and EMBASE for all available casecontrol studies to explore the association between two APO A5 polymorphisms and CAD. Two reviewers independently selected studies. Statistical analyses were carried out using the STATA software package v 10.0. Thirteen studies investigated the association between the APO A5 -1131T>C polymorphism and risk of CAD were selected in this meta-analysis with 5,050 cases and 7,272 controls. For the S19W APO A5 gene polymorphism, 5 studies were included with 2,196 cases and 3,933 controls. We observed a significant statistical association between Apo A5 -1131T>C polymorphism and CAD (recessive genetic model: OR = 1.73, 95% CI = 1.37-2.19; dominant genetic model: OR = 1.42, 95% CI = 1.25-1.61; allelic contrast: OR = 1.31, 95% CI = 1.22-1.39, respectively). After restricting our analysis to Chinese individuals, we found that the association was stronger. We also observed strong association between the APO A5 S19>W polymorphism and risk of CAD under a recessive genetic model. This meta-analysis reveals that the minor allele of the -1131T>C polymorphism in the promoter of APO A5 gene significantly increases the susceptibility to CAD. This effect is more pronounced in Chinese subjects.