TaqIB polymorphism in CETP gene: the influence on incidence of cardiovascular disease in statin-treated patients with familial hypercholesterolemia.

The effects of TaqI restriction fragment length polymorphism of the CETP gene on the occurrence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) events were investigated in patients with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH). A total of 300 FH patients, of which 116 (39%) had CVD at the start of the study, were treated with statins during a mean period of 8.5 years. The distribution of Taq1B genotypes was 31% B1B1, 49% B1B2, and 20% B2B2. No differences were found at baseline between the three genotypes, except for an association of the B1 allele with lower high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol levels (P=0.003). All patients were put on statins within 6-8 weeks after the first visit; about 60% received simvastatin (20-40 mg daily) and 40% either pravastatin (40 mg daily) or atorvastatin (20-40 mg daily). The different statin treatments were similar for all groups. The mean change of plasma HDL-cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, and triglyceride concentration during statin therapy was similar for the three genotypes. During follow-up, new CVD events were recorded in 22 (37%) of the B2B2 patients (n=59) and in 67 (28%) of B1 allele carriers (n=241) (P=0.36). The relative risk for CVD events, after adjustment for age, gender, and CVD at intake, was 1.8 (CI: 1.1-3.0) for B2B2 carriers compared to B1 allele carriers. The Taq1B polymorphism is a significant predictor of future CVD events in statin-treated patients with FH. In spite of similar improvement of the lipoprotein profile during statin therapy, our FH patients with the B2B2 genotype may have a higher CVD risk in comparison with the B1 allele carriers.

Severe hypertriglyceridemia with insulin resistance is associated with systemic inflammation: reversal with bezafibrate therapy in a randomized controlled trial.

PURPOSE: To determine whether hypertriglyceridemia is associated with systemic inflammation, which may contribute to the increased cardiovascular risk in patients who have hypertriglyceridemia. In addition, we investigated whether fibrates reverse this inflammatory state. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Serum lipid levels, body mass index, insulin resistance, and inflammatory parameters were compared between 18 patients who had severe hypertriglyceridemia without cardiovascular disease and 20 normolipidemic controls. We measured the ex vivo production capacity of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and interleukin (IL)-6 after whole-blood stimulation with lipopolysaccharide, as well as circulating levels of C-reactive protein and fibrinogen. A randomized controlled trial was conducted to determine whether bezafibrate (400 mg administered daily for 6 weeks) affected these parameters in hypertriglyceridemic patients. RESULTS: When compared with normolipidemic controls, hypertriglyceridemic patients had significantly lower high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and higher triglyceride levels, body mass index, and insulin resistance. In addition, hypertriglyceridemic patients had a significantly higher production capacity of TNF-alpha (mean difference, 11 700 pg/mL; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 7800 to 15,700 pg/mL]) and IL-6 (mean difference, 20,400 pg/mL; 95% CI: 7800 to 32,900 pg/mL), and higher levels of C-reactive protein (mean difference, 0.8 mg/L; 95% CI: 0.1 to 2.4 mg/L) and fibrinogen (mean difference, 0.8 g/dL; 95% CI: 0.3 to 1.3 g/dL). Bezafibrate therapy significantly increased HDL cholesterol levels, reduced triglyceride and insulin resistance levels, and reduced production capacity of TNF-alpha and IL-6, as well as levels of C-reactive protein and fibrinogen. CONCLUSION: Systemic inflammation is present in patients who have the clinical phenotype that is associated with severe hypertriglyceridemia, and may contribute to the increased risk of cardiovascular disease in these patients. Bezafibrate has anti-inflammatory effects in these patients.