Functional C(-260)→T polymorphism in the promoter of the CD14 gene has been reported to be associated with coronary heart disease (CHD). The functional role of the polymorphism, however, is still a matter of debate, since several studies have not proved its effect on clinical outcomes associated with atherosclerosis. Cardiovascular-related morbidity and mortality was assessed in a post-hoc approach four years after baseline characterization of patients (male/female n = 36/32) with angiographically proven coronary heart disease. CD14 C(-260)→T promoter genotype was determined at baseline. Seventeen out of 20 CHD patients with non-lethal cardiovascular events carried at least one T-allele. CD14 T-260 allele carriers have a 3.59-fold (95 % confidence interval: 1.11-6.75) increased risk for non-lethal cardiovascular events (Kaplan-Meier plot: log rank test p = 0. 029). All patients with lethal outcomes (n = 6) were also T-allele carriers. Multivariate logistic regression analysis among CHD patients including age, established risk factors and the C(-260)→T polymorphism as covariates and non-lethal events as a dependent variable confirmed the independent prospective effect of the T-allele on cardiovascular outcomes in this subset. Further evidence is provided for the role of CD14 C(-260)→T promoter polymorphism as a genetic susceptibility marker of atherosclerosis in patients with an advanced clinical course of the disease. Due to the small sample size and post-hoc character of the study large-scale prospective studies that monitor patients with proven CHD are needed to confirm these findings., M. Porsch-Öucürümez, J.Hucke, S. Westphal, J. A. Hubáček, G. Schmitz, C. Luley., and Obsahuje bibliografii a bibliografické odkazy