Association of the -250G/A promoter polymorphism of the hepatic lipase gene with the risk of peripheral arterial disease in type 2 diabetic patients

AimThis study aimed to investigate the association between a polymorphism in the hepatic lipase (LIPC) gene promoter and the presence of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) in persons with type 2 diabetes.Patient and methodsWe evaluated 120 type 2 diabetics and identified those with PAD according to the ankle–arm index. The G-250A polymorphisms in the promoter of the LIPC gene were studied by PCR restriction. A logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the association between the rare allele and PAD.ResultsThe prevalence of PAD was 19%. The frequency of the -250A allele was 0.211 in the group without PAD and 0.395 in the group with PAD (P<.05). Carriers of the -250A allele differed only in the ankle–arm index (0.92±0.12 for carriers vs. 1.00±0.12 for noncarriers, P<.05), with the difference remaining significant after adjustment for covariates (age; sex; waist-to-hip ratio; body mass index; duration of diabetes; smoking; hypertension; glycated hemoglobin; triglycerides; HDL cholesterol; LDL cholesterol; small, dense LDL cholesterol). Only smoking [odds ratio (OR)=6.93, 95% confidence interval (CI)=2.12–22.69, P=.001] and the -250A allele (OR=2.89, 95% CI=1.07–7.84, P=.036) were significantly associated with vascular disease in the logistic regression analysis.ConclusionsPatients with type 2 diabetes who are carriers of the rare -250A allele in the promoter of the hepatic lipase gene are susceptible to PAD.