Factor XIII Val34Leu polymorphism in patients with cardiac syndrome X

Background: The aim of the study was to examine the frequency of factor XIII polymorphism among patients with cardiac syndrome X (CSX). Methods: This study was designed as a cross-sectional and observational study. Forty-eight female patients with CSX and 36 controls matched by age, gender, diabetes, and hypertension were studied. CSX was defined as typical chest pain during rest or effort, abnormal test result for exercise ECG, and presence of angiographically normal epicardial coronary arteries after ruling out inducible spasm. Factor XIII gene polymorphism was investigated by using CVD Strip Assay (ViennaLab Diagnostic GmbH) commercial kit. Results: The frequency of factor XIII (Val/Leu + Leu/Leu) mutation was significantly higher in patients with CSX (43%) than in controls (19%) (p = 0.02). Frequency of the Leu allele was significantly higher in the patient group (23.5% vs. 11.1%, p = 0.04). Factor XIII (Val//Leu + Leu/Leu) mutation (p = 0.01, OR = 3.42; 95% CI 1.22-9.58) and smoking (p = 0.04, OR = 3.33, 95% CI 1.05-10.58) were identified as independent predictors of the disease in multivariate regression analysis. Conclusions: This study indicates that there is an evidence for association between factor XIII Val34Leu polymorphism and CSX.