Several recent studies have reported contradicting results concerning the relevance of the
plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) 4G/5G-polymorphism for
myocardial infarction. In addition, the common
factor V Q506 (FV:Q506) mutation is frequently discussed as a risk factor for arterial
thrombosis, but evidence is rare. In order to further highlight the role of both polymorphisms in
myocardial infarction, we investigated 241 young male
myocardial infarction patients (< or = 45 years-of-age) aged 38.6+/-4.4 years (mean+/-SD) for the presence of both genotypes. The control group consisted of 179 healthy men aged 47.1+/-6.4 years (mean+/-SD) of the same ethnic background as the patients. Neither the distribution of the
PAI-1 4G/5G-polymorphism nor the prevalence of the FV: Q506 mutation was significantly different between young patients and controls (4G/4G-genotype: chi2=2.08, NS; odds ratio 1.36, 95% confidence interval 0.89-2.06; FV:Q506 mutation: chi2=0.33, NS; odds ratio 1.33, 95% confidence interval 0.64-2.78). Moreover, the
PAI-1 4G/5G-distribution did not differ significantly between patients and controls in subgroups by tertiles of
triglyceride levels. In conclusion, in the present study neither homozygosity for the 4G allele of the
PAI-1 4G/5G-polymorphism nor the FV:Q506 mutation led to an increased risk of
myocardial infarction in young men.