Genetics
Higher plasma CETP concentration, but not CETP genotype, predicts fewer cardiovascular events in pravastatin-treated coronary disease patients (J Intern Med 2006)
Original title: Plasma cholesteryl ester transfer protein concentrations predict cardiovascular events in patients with coronary artery disease treated with pravastatin
Since the CETP TaqIB B1B1 genotype and high plasma CETP concentrations were previously linked to favourable angiographic outcomes in pravastatin-treated coronary artery disease (CAD) patients, this prospective study tested whether CETP TaqIB genotype and baseline plasma CETP concentration predict clinical cardiovascular events, following 1620 men and women with preexisting CAD (1389 hypercholesterolaemic patients included, 1002 completing follow-up) started on pravastatin and followed for 2 years across 88 primary care practices and 7 hospitals in Austria. One hundred patients had at least one cardiovascular event. Significantly more events occurred in patients in the lowest versus highest quartile of plasma CETP concentration (OR 3.20, CI95 1.65-6.23, P=0.001, adjusted for known CAD risk factors), but no significant difference in event numbers was found across CETP TaqIB genotypes. The authors conclude plasma CETP concentration, but not genotype, predicts cardiovascular events, with high CETP paradoxically associated with fewer events despite higher LDL-cholesterol.
Original abstract
Objective: The B1B1 variant of the cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) TaqIB polymorphism and high plasma CETP concentrations are associated with favourable angiographic outcomes in pravastatin-treated patients suffering from coronary artery disease (CAD). The purpose of the present study was to test whether CETP TaqIB genotypes and/or plasma CETP concentrations at baseline also predict clinical end-points in patients with CAD.
Design: Prospective longitudinal observational study.
Setting: Primary care doctors (n=88) and hospitals (n=7) in Austria.
Subjects: A total of 1620 men and women with preexisting CAD were recruited and plasma lipids were determined at study entry. 1389 hypercholesterolaemic patients were included and 1002 patients completed the follow-up.
Interventions: In all patients treatment with pravastatin was started and patients were followed up for 2 years.
Main Outcome Measures: Cardiovascular events.
Results: One hundred patients suffered at least one cardiovascular event. We observed significantly more events in patients within the lowest compared with the highest quartile of plasma CETP concentrations (odds ratio 3.20, CI95 1.65-6.23; P=0.001, adjusted for known risk factors of CAD). No significantly different numbers of cardiovascular events were found between CETP TaqIB genotypes.
Conclusions: Plasma CETP concentrations, but not CETP TaqIB genotypes, predict cardiovascular events in patients with CAD treated with pravastatin. Despite higher LDL cholesterol concentrations, high plasma CETP concentrations at baseline are associated with fewer cardiovascular events compared with low plasma CETP concentrations in CAD patients treated with pravastatin.
Summary written by cetpinhibition.org from the published abstract; figures as published. Page updated 19 August 2026. Methods.