Polymorphisms associated with increased cardiovascular risk in the general population do not predict acute events in hemodialysis patients

Background: Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in hemodialysis patients (HP). The aim of the study was to analyze a series of polymorphisms (known to be associated with increased cardiovascular risk in the general population) in HP, in order to better understand the mechanisms of cardiovascular disease and to find new prevention strategies. Methods: 102 hemodialysis patients were investigated for polymorphisms associated with increased cardiovascular risk in unselected population (FV Leiden R5O6Q; FV H1299R; FII G20210A; PAI-1 var 4G/5G; GpIIIA T1565C; FXIII var G/T; β-FIBRINOGENO var G/A; ACE I/D; AGT var M/T; ATR-1A1166C; APOE T112C; APOE T158C; MTHFR C677T; MTHFR A1298C; CBS 844ins68). Results: No difference was observed in the prevalence of the analysed polymorphisms between HP and Caucasian unselected population, with the exception of FV H1299R, PAI-1 (4G/5G), and Factor XIII V34L, which were significantly higher in HP. However none of the genetic factors analysed was associated in HP with the cardiovascular events (non-fatal and fatal) recorded at the time of recruitment or during the eighteen months -follow up. Conclusions: In HP, the traditional genetic risk factors for cardiovascular disease are not able to predict acute cardiac events, peripheral vascular events, and cerebral vascular events recorded during a follow up period of eighteen months.