[ Mitochondrial DNA polymorphism association with myocardial infarction and prognostic signs for atherosclerosis]

We have performed association analysis for mtDNA most common variants and haplogroups with myocardial infarction and some prognostic characteristics in patients. Comparison of patients (N=406) and controls (N=183) has shown higher frequency of HV0 haplogroup in patients (6.9% vs. 2.2%; p=0.033). Patients with early infarction (before age 55), comparing to patiens older than 55 and the first infarction, had higher frequency of 16189C variant (24.1 vs. 12.5%; p=0.008); also, haplogroup U2e was registered only in the subgroup with early infarction (4.4%; p=0.004). On the other side, haplogroup U5 was less frequent in the patients with early infarction (5.1% vs. 15.4%; p=0.002). The patients with recurring cardiovascular incidents during one year follow-up had higher frequency of haplogroup H1 (20% versus 4.5% in the patients without complications, p=0.002) and variant 16189C (30% versus 13.5%; p=0.018). Haplogroup U5 was more frequent in the group of patients with left ventricular ejection fraction less than 40%: 17.1% comparing to 8.2% in the group with ejection fraction>40%; p=0.034. The results suggest that mtDNA polymorphism contributes to coronary atherosclerosis. The associations could be explained by the polymorphism effect on oxidative phosphorylation and reactive oxygen production in mitochondria.