CXCL5 gene polymorphisms and coronary collateralization.

BACKGROUND

The presence of coronary collateralization is heterogenous, even amongst those with similar degrees of epicardial coronary artery stenoses. We hypothesized that genetic variation of CXCL5, a chemokine that mediates angiogenesis, is associated with coronary collateralization.

METHODS

We genotyped subjects undergoing coronary angiography for single nucleotide polymorphisms of CXCL5 and determined the presence of spontaneously visible coronary collaterals.

RESULTS

Subjects with collaterals had less angina (46 % vs 59 %, p = 0.006), and prior percutaneous coronary intervention (34 % vs 47 %, p = 0.010), and more hyperlipidemia (90 % vs 82 %, p = 0.018), peripheral arterial disease (25 % vs 17 %, p = 0.041), congestive heart failure (16 % vs 8 %, p = 0.007), and multi-vessel coronary artery disease (41 % vs 24 %, p = 0.0001) compared to those without collaterals. Multi-vessel disease and hyperlipidemia were positive predictors of angiographically visible collaterals while being a carrier of the CXCL5 polymorphism was a negative predictor.

CONCLUSIONS

Coronary collateralization may, at least in part, be genetically determined.