Haptoglobin type and 30-day mortality in diabetic individuals presenting with acute myocardial infarction

There are two major classes of alleles for the haptoglobin (Hp) gene, denoted 1 and 2 (1). We have recently reported evidence that Hp is a major susceptibility gene for cardiovascular disease in the diabetic state (2,3). Moreover, we have provided a mechanism for this differential susceptibility conferred by the Hp type by demonstrating striking differences in the antioxidant protection afforded by the protein products of the different …