BACKGROUNDC-reactive protein (CRP) gene +1059 G/C polymorphism has been reported to be associated with coronary heart disease (CHD) risk, but the results remain inconclusive. This meta-analysis was therefore conducted to clarify these controversies.

METHODSA comprehensive search was conducted to identify all case control studies on the association between CRP gene +1059 G/C polymorphism and CHD risk. All the related studies were further strictly selected according to the inclusion criteria. Meta-analysis was performed with STATA 10.1 (StataCorp, USA). The association was assessed by odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI); both Begg's funnel plot and Egger's regression test were used to assess the publication bias.

RESULTSThis meta-analysis on a total of 13 studies comprising 6316 CHD cases and 4467 controls showed no significant association between CRP gene +1059 G/C polymorphism and CHD risk in the overall study (for C/C+C/G vs. G/G: OR = 1.01, 95% CI = 0.81-1.25, P = 0.96; for C/C vs. C/G+G/G: OR = 1.17, 95% CI = 0.77-1.77, P = 0.47; for C/C vs. G/G: OR = 1.17, 95% CI = 0.77-1.77, P = 0.47; for C allele vs. G allele: OR = 1.01, 95% CI = 0.81-1.24, P = 0.96). However, in the subgroup analysis by ethnicity, the results showed significant association between CRP gene +1059 G/C polymorphism and CHD risk among Caucasians (for C/C vs. G/G: OR = 2.54, 95% CI = 1.13-5.72, P = 0.02; C/C vs. C/G+G/G: OR = 2.45, 95% CI = 1.09-5.51, P = 0.03), but not among Asians and Africans (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONCRP gene +1059 G/C polymorphism may be associated with increased CHD risk among Caucasians and more evidences need to validate the conclusion.