Objective To investigate the relationship between the plasma level of macrophage migration inhibiting factor (MIF) and its related gene-173G/C polymorphism and risk factors of atherosclerosis in pilots for reducing the risk of adverse cardiovascular events in early stage. Methods Four hundred and fifty-eight military pilots undergoing medical examination (pilot group), 51 patients with coronary heart disease (CHD group), and 194 persons undergoing routine health examination (control group) were selected as the subjects under investigation. Subjects in pilot group were further grouped according to the different aircraft type they were flying and their flight time. General clinical data of the three groups were collected. ELISA was used to determine the plasma levels of MIF. MIF-173 G/C (rs755622) was detected by Taqman probe method. The differences of genotype and allele frequencies among the three groups were analyzed. Results No significant difference was found in plasma levels of MIF between pilot group and CHD group (P>0.05), but the levels were significantly higher in the both groups than in the control group (P<0.05). No statistical significant difference in plasma MIF levels was found in different aircraft types and flight time subgroups (P>0.05). There was no significant difference in genotype and allele frequencies among the three group (P>0.05). There was no significant difference of plasma MIF, TC, TG concentrations in the pilots who were with CC, GG and CG genotypes, respectively (P>0.05). Conclusions MIF-173G/C polymorphism may have no significant correlation to the early susceptibility of atherosclerosis. Elevated plasma MIF levels may be associated with the development of coronary heart disease.