Inflammatory gene load is associated with enhanced inflammation and early carotid atherosclerosis in smokers. Stroke

Background and Purpose—Smoking acts as a pro-inflammatory stimulus. Inflammation may provide a key mechanism by which smoking causes atherosclerosis. If so, then the degree to which an individual mounts an inflammatory response is likely to influence atherosclerosis severity. This study examined the impact of inflammatory gene polymorphisms and gene–smoking interactions on common carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT), a measure of early atherosclerosis. Methods—In a community population (n1000), mean IMT was determined using ultrasound. This population wa