Background. We evaluated a two risk factors of atherosclerosis development, apolipoprotein E genotype and plasma level of Lp(a), and their association in Czech population. Patients and Controls. Apo E and Lp(a) have been determined in the group of 109 men with premature myocardial infarction and compared with the population samples (301 men for apo E polymorphism and 112 men for Lp(a) evaluation). Methods and Results. Apo E gene polymorphism was analysed by PCR with subsequent restriction analysis of the PCR product. Lp(a) concentration was measured enzymatically using the IMMUNO set. The frequency of alleles of apo E genotype in myocardial infarction patients did not significantly differ from that found in the control group. The distribution of the Lp(a) concentrations in MI patients was shifted to higher levels than in population sample (p<0.0001). Conclusions. We have not found correlation between this two risk factors of myocardial infarction. High concentration of Lp(a) is on apo E polymorphism independent risk factor of development of myocardial infarction.

        Key words: apolipoprotein E, Lp(a), polymorphism, myocardial infarction.