Association Between rs2200733 Polymorphism on Chromosome 4q25 and Atrial Fibrillation in a Greek Population.

INTRODUCTION Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common arrhythmia with evidence of genetic susceptibility. The rs2200733 single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in a non-coding region on chromosome 4q25 has been associated with AF. The purpose of this case-control study was to examine the possible association of the rs2200733 polymorphism with AF in the Greek population. METHODS A total of 295 individuals, 167 AF patients and 128 controls, were genotyped for the presence of the rs2200733 polymorphism using a polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLPs) method. RESULTS The T/T genotype and the T allele were detected more frequently in patients with AF compared to controls (13.2% vs. 2.3%, p=0.001, and 29.6% vs. 17.9%, p=0.001), suggesting that the rs2200733 polymorphism increases susceptibility to AF in the Greek population. In a multivariate stepwise analysis that included many conventional precipitating factors for AF, T/T genotype and left atrium (LA) diameter were the only independent predictors of AF (OR 1.74, 95% CI: 1.40-2.98, p=0.005, and OR 2.88, 95% CI: 1.835.62, p<0.001, respectively). A trend of association was observed between the T/T genotype and lone AF (p=0.08). CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that SNP rs2200733 confers a significant risk of AF in the Greek population, providing further support to the previously reported association between AF and rs2200733 polymorphism on chromosome 4q25.