Haptoglobin 2–2 genotype and the risk of coronary artery disease in the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial/Epidemiology of Diabetes Interventions and Complications study (DCCT/EDIC)

Abstract Aims/hypothesis Haptoglobin(Hp) 2–2 genotype has been shown to increase coronary artery disease (CAD) risk in numerous type 2 diabetes studies but in only one type 1 diabetes cohort. We assessed the association of Hp2–2 with incident CAD over 26 years of follow-up in 1303 Caucasian participants of the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial/Epidemiology of Diabetes Interventions and Complications (DCCT/EDIC) study. Methods DCCT randomized volunteers with type 1 diabetes to intensive versus conventional therapy within two cohorts: ‘primary prevention’ with 1–5 years diabetes duration and ‘secondary intervention’ with 1–15 years diabetes duration and early retinopathy, with or without albuminuria, but no advanced complications. CAD was defined as myocardial infarction (MI) or death judged to be from CAD, silent MI, angina, coronary revascularization, or congestive heart failure due to CAD. Results In the entire DCCTcohort, Hp2–2 was not significantly associated with incident CAD or MI. However, in pre-specified exploratory subgroup analyses, an increased MI risk was suggested in the secondary cohort for those with Hp2–2. Conclusions/interpretation The analysis does not statistically confirm an overall association between Hp 2–2 and incident CAD, however, some suggestions of associations were observed in secondary analyses.