ObjectiveTo investigate the association of high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and cholesterol ester transfer protein (CETP) TaqIB mutation with non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NA-AION) in the Shaanxi Han ethnic population. MethodsThe study cohort consisted of 45 individuals that had been diagnosed with NA-AION and 45 healthy controls (matched for age, gender). None of the cases or controls had a history of diabetes, serious cardio-cerebral vascular diseases, liver and kidney dysfunction that might influence plasma lipid levels. Plasma HDL-C was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent one-step, through the Toshiba TBA-40FR automatic biochemical analyzer. CETP TaqIB gene polymorphism was determined by the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) techniques for analysis. B2B2 genotype was only a fluorescence band with 535 bp; B1B1 genotype was 2 fluorescence bands with 361, 174 bp; B1B2 genotype was 3 fluorescence bands with 535, 361, 174 bp. The relative risk of genotype, HDL-C and disease occurrence was analyzed by logistics regression analysis. ResultsThere have no significant difference between NA-AION patients and controls about plasma total cholesterol level and triglyceride level (t=1.907, 1.877; P > 0.05). The plasma HDL-C levels were significantly lower in NA-AION patients than in controls (t=2.367, P=0.022). Compared with controls, the prevalence of B1B1 genotype and B1 allele was higher (χ2=17.289, P=0.001), the prevalence of B2 allele (χ2=15.648, P=0.000) was lower in NA-AION patients. The lower concentration of HDL-C was risk factor of NA-AION (odds ratio=6.143, 95% confidence interval 1.262-29.895, χ2=27.676;P=0.013). The proportion of B1B1 genotype was significantly higher in NA-AION patients than in controls (odds ratio=2.24, 95% confidence interval 2.427-36.323, χ2=10.526; P=0.001). ConclusionsThe low plasma HDL-C is independent risk factor for NA-AION and is associated with the development of NA-AION in the Shaanxi Han ethnic population. CETP TaqIB mutation is associated with low plasma HDL-C in NA-AION in the Shaanxi Han ethnic population.