P-selectin gene polymorphism associates with pulmonary hypertension in congenital heart disease.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between P-selectin gene polymorphism and congenital heart disease (CHD) with pulmonary hypertension (PAH).

METHODS: 58 CHD patients with PAH (PAH-CHD), 43 CHD patients without PAH and 205 healthy subjects were included in this study. The concentration of plasma P-selectin was determined by ELISA kits; the direct sequencing of PCR products was used to analyze the P-selectin genotypes.

RESULTS: The concentration of plasma P-selectin was markedly higher in PAH-CHD patients than that in CHD subjects and controls, while no difference was observed between CHD group and control. A significant difference of P-selectin genotype -825T/C polymorphism was observed between patients with PAH-CHD and healthy subjects (P<0.05). Logistic analysis showed that the subjects with haplotypes A-G and G-G had lower risk of PAH-CHD compared with the ones with haplotype A-A (OR=0.47, 95% CI=0.24-0.92). In the subjects of PAH-CHD and control, plasma P-selectin concentration was higher in subjects with -825TT genotype than the ones with haplotypes T-C and C-C (P<0.05).

CONCLUSION: P-selectin probably involves in the development of PAH-CHD. The polymorphism of -825T/C is associated with the risk of PAH-CHD, and may be one of its risk factors.