The 4G/4G PAI‐1 genotype is associated with elevated plasma PAI‐1 levels regardless of variables of the metabolic syndrome and smoking status. A population‐based study in Spanish population

Reported data about the effect of the 4G/5G PAI‐1 polymorphism on plasma PAI‐1 levels are controversial. This study was designed to determine the relative effect of the 4G/5G PAI‐1 polymorphism on high plasma PAI‐1 levels after adjustment for metabolic syndrome – related variables, and to test if this effect is modified by the smoking status. Six hundred and thirty one unrelated subjects (292 men; 35–74 years), from a cross‐sectional population‐based epidemiological survey in the province of Segovia (Spain) were studied. The higher frequency of high PAI‐1 levels was found in 4G/4G subjects (5G/5G 19.4%, 4G/5G 21.6%, 4G/4G 33.7%, p = 0.003). A multiple regression model, adjusted for gender, age, BMI, waist circumference, triglycerides, HDL‐cholesterol, HOMA IR and leptin, showed this adjOR: 4G/4G vs 5G/5G: 2.22, p  =  0.008. When smoking status – 4G/5G PAI‐1 interaction was included as an independent variable these results were not modified. Our results indicate that the 4G/4G PAI‐1 genotype might be strongly associated with high PAI‐1 levels regardless of metabolic syndrome‐related variables and smoking status.