AIM: To study the impact of a polymorphic variant of the matrix 
metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3) gene on the development and course of chronic heart 
failure (CHF) in patients with coronary heart disease.
SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A total of 277 patients with New York Heart Association 
(NYHA) Functional Class (FC) II-IV CHF were examined. MMP-3 -1171 5A/6A genetic 
polymorphism was studied by polymerase chain reaction. A control group included 
136 patients (mean age 53.6 ± 4.8 years) with no signs of cardiovascular 
diseases, as evidenced by the examination.
RESULTS: The frequency of the 5A allele and the 5A/5A genotype of the 1171 5A/6A 
polymorphic locus in the MMP-3 gene proved to be higher in the patients with CHF 
than that in the control group. Thus, the variability of the 5A allele (odds 
ratio (OR), 1.39; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.033 to 1.869; p = 0.03) and 
the 5A/5A genotype (OR, 2.15; 95% CI: 1.131 to 4.070; p = 0.02) was associated 
with increased risk for CHF. There were significant differences in the frequency 
of MMP-3 alleles and genotypes in relation to FC of CHF. The frequency of the 
5A/5A genotype was substantially higher in the patients with NYHA FC IV CHF than 
that in those with NYHA FC II CHF (32.8% versus 15.2%; p = 0.039). The frequency 
of the 5A allele was significantly higher in the patients with NYHA FC IV CHF 
than that in those with NYHA FC II CHF (55.5% and 39.3%; respectively; p = 
0.019). Thus, the carriage of the 5A allele and the 5A/5A genotype of the 1171 
5A/6A polymorphic locus in the MMP-3 gene is a risk factor of severe CHF.
CONCLUSION: The determination of MMP-3 -1171 5A/6A polymorphism may be 
recommended for the early prediction of a risk for the development and severe 
course of CHF.