Coagulation factor XII (FXII) activity, activated FXII, distribution of FXII C46T gene polymorphism and coronary risk

Background: Whether factor XII (FXII) activity, its 46C>T polymorphism and activated FXII (FXIIa) are associated with coronary heart disease (CHD) remains to be determined. Methods: FXII, FXIIa and the FXII 46C>T polymorphism were determined in a hospital‐based cohort of 2615 patients undergoing coronary angiography. Results: Fifty‐seven per cent of the participants were identified as wild‐type (46CC), 38% as heterozygous (46CT) and 5% as homozygous (46TT) for FXII 46C>T. FXII and FXIIa levels were significantly lower in carriers of the T‐allele: 132 (97–151) U dL−1 FXII in 46CC, 87 (77–99) U dL−1 FXII in 46CT and 53 (42–67) U dL−1 FXII in 46TT carriers (P