Association of genetic polymorphism G84A in NOS1 gene in patients with atrial fibrillation in Grodno region

Abstract

Background. Genetic factors play a major role as a risk factor of atrial fibrillation (AF). Genome-wide association studies have now identified around 140 genetic loci associated with AF. To date, no clinical studies have examined the relationship between the development of AF and the G84A polymorphism of the NOS1 gene, which explains the relevance of this study, which aimed to investigate the association of the genetic polymorphism G84A in NOS1 gene with AF in patients of the Grodno Region of Belarus. Material and methods. The study included 91 patients with coronary artery disease who were admitted to the Grodno State Clinical Cardiology Center. 49 patients (53.8%) had paroxysmal AF, while 42 patients (46.2%) had sinus rhythm. All patients underwent instrumental, laboratory and molecular genetic testing, including the determining of the G84A polymorphism of the NOS1 gene using the polymerase chain reaction technique. Results. Patients with AF were predominantly female and had higher BNP levels and larger linear and volumetric parameters of both atria and left ventricle, as well as higher grades of mitral and tricuspid regurgitation (p<0.05). In the group of patients with AF, the recessive allele A of the G84A polymorphism was statistically significantly more common (41.4%) as compared to patients with sinus rhythm (19.3%, p=0.01), while the GG genotype was statistically significantly less common compared to patients with sinus rhythm (p=0.034). The presence of the recessive allele A in the genotype was associated with an increased risk of AF (RR=1.92, 95% CI 1.16–3.18, p=0.03). Conclusion. A statistically significant predominance of the recessive allele A of the G84A polymorphic variant of the NOS1 gene was found in patients with AF compared to patients with sinus rhythm. This genetic predisposition can be taken into account in differentiated therapy of patients with cardiac arrhythmias.