Using two recently described family-based tests of association, the possible role of the functional -2518G/A polymorphism in the promoter region of the monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) gene in the susceptibility to ischaemic heart disease (IHD) was investigated in a well-defined Irish population. One thousand and twelve individuals from 386 families with at least one member prematurely affected with IHD were genotyped for the MCP-1 -2518G/A polymorphism. Using the combined transmission disequilibrium test and the pedigree disequilibrium test, no association between the MCP-1 -2518G/A polymorphism and IHD was found. Our data demonstrate that, in an Irish population, the MCP-1 -2518G/A polymorphism is not strongly associated with IHD.