Association of plasma cholesteryl ester transfer protein activity and polymorphism with coronary artery disease extent in Tunisian type II diabetic patients

Introduction: Cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP), a key protein in reverse cholesterol transport, has a controversial role in atherosclerosis. Objectives: We investigated CETP activity and polymorphism in Tunisian type II diabetes and its relationship with coronary artery disease (CAD). Design and methods: 173 type II diabetic patients with or without CAD were compared to 67 controls. Results: The HDL cholesterol concentration was low in a Tunisian population. The B1 allele of the CETP gene was associated with a low concentration of HDL cholesterol and was more frequent in Tunisians than in other populations. In type II diabetic patients, the B1 allele was associated with increased prevalence of CAD only in men (OR = 0.357, CI = 0.161–0.791, P = 0.01). The CETP activity increased in type II diabetic patients compared to controls (P = 0.05). Furthermore, the CETP activity was increased in patients with double or triple vessel disease compared to those with single vessel disease (P = 0.025). Conclusions: Our data are in favour of an association between CETP and developing CAD, as well as the extent of CAD.