Angiotensin converting enzyme polymorphism is associated with severity of coronary heart disease and serum lipids (total cholesterol and triglycerides levels) in Japanese patients.
BACKGROUND
Much past research has concerned the relationship between coronary heart disease and the angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) genotype, with many lines of evidence demonstrating polymorphism to be an independent risk factor for myocardial infarction. Interestingly, however, association of ACE polymorphism and severity of coronary artery stenosis according to racial background has recently been proposed.


OBJECTIVE
To clarify the relationship between the ACE genotype and severity of coronary artery stenosis in Japanese patients.


METHODS
In 36 consecutive patients undergoing coronary catheterization, comparative examination of coronary angiography findings with the ACE genotype was conducted.


RESULTS
The severity of coronary artery stenosis indeed showed a relationship with the ACE genotype, with more severe coronary artery stenosis associated with the deletion (D) allele (P < 0.05). The serum lipids, total cholesterol and triglycerides levels, were also elevated in patients with the D allele (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
We have provided further evidence that ACE polymorphism is associated with severity of coronary heart disease in a Japanese population. A possible relationship between serum lipids and the ACE genotype is also suggested.
Suzuki
T
T
Third Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Japan.
Yokota
H
H
Yamazaki
T
T
Kitamura
K
K
Yamaoki
K
K
Nagai
R
R
Yazaki
Y
Y
D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood*; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D007703:Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A / Q000235:genetics*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood*
D015415:Biomarkers; D017931:DNA Primers; D014280:Triglycerides; D004247:DNA; D002784:Cholesterol; D007703:Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A