Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase Gene Polymorphisms and Risk of Coronary Artery Disease

could be a candidate gene for coronary artery disease (CAD). This study investigated the relationship of the eNOS Glu2983Asp and T7863C polymorphisms with the presence and severity of CAD in the Italian popula-tion. Methods: We enrolled 415 unrelated individuals who underwent coronary angiography. The severity of CAD was expressed by means of the Duke score. The eNOS Glu2983Asp and T7863C variants were analyzed by PCR. Results: There was significant linkage disequilibrium between the two eNOS polymorphisms (P <0.0001). Both variants were significantly associated with the occurrence and severity of CAD (P 0.01 and 0.004 for Glu2983Asp and T7863C, respectively). The risk o