The Asp299Gly polymorphism in TLR4 has been associated with a lower risk of carotid atherosclerosis, and a reduction in intima media thickness in the common carotid artery (Kiechl et al., 2002; Hernesniemi et al., 2008), and has also been linked to decreased acute coronary events, and greater efficacy of statin therapy (Ameziane et al., 2003; Boekholdt et al., 2003). The gene discussed is TLR4; the disease is carotid atherosclerosis.