Role of polymorphisms of the endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene in predicting slow-flow phenomenon after primary percutaneous coronary intervention

OBJECTIVE
The aim of the present study was to examine the association between 2 polymorphisms of the endothelial nitric oxide (eNOS) gene (-786T>C and +894G>T) and the no-reflow/slow-flow phenomenon in post-primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) patients.

METHODS
A total of 103 post-PPCI patients were enrolled. Coronary no-reflow phenomenon was defined as a Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) flow grade 0–1 and coronary slow-flow phenomenon (CSFP) was defined as a TIMI flow grade ≤2.

RESULTS
Due to the small number of post-PPCI patients with the no-reflow phenomenon (n=4), the primary comparison was made between CSFP (n=20) and normal flow (n=83) groups. There was a greater frequency of CSFP among carriers of the –786C allele of the eNOS –786T>C polymorphism (odds ratio [OR]: 3.90; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.87–17.45; p=0.07). However, no such association was detected between the +894T allele of the eNOS +894G>T and CSFP (OR: 0.92; 95% CI: 0.21–3.98; p=0.91). In the adjusted analysis, the -786T>C polymorphism did not reach statistical significance.

CONCLUSION
There was no significant association between CSFP and 2 of the most common polymorphisms of the eNOS gene in post-PPCI patients.