ACE gene polymorphism as a risk factor for ischemic cerebrovascular disease.
BACKGROUND
Researchers have suggested that the deletional allele of the ACE (angiotensin-converting enzyme) gene insertion-deletion polymorphism is a potent risk factor for myocardial infarction. This association could not be confirmed in the Copenhagen City Heart Study, in which 10,150 persons were studied. The ACE gene polymorphism has also recently been suggested as a potent risk factor for ischemic cerebrovascular disease.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the association between ACE gene polymorphism and ischemic cerebrovascular disease.


METHODS
Two case-referent studies and a cross-sectional study.


METHODS
University hospital in Copenhagen, Denmark.


METHODS
Case-referent study 1: 35 women and 38 men who developed ischemic cerebrovascular disease before 50 years of age compared with 1454 women and 1737 men from a general population sample. Case-referent study 2: 82 women and 137 men with ischemic cerebrovascular disease and carotid stenosis greater than 40% compared with 4273 women and 3091 men from the general population sample. Cross-sectional study of the general population sample: 67 women and 93 men with ischemic cerebrovascular disease compared with 4077 women and 3156 men without such disease.


METHODS
Genotype; age; body mass index; smoking habits; levels of lipids, lipoproteins, apolipoproteins, and fibrinogen; and diagnosis of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and ischemic cerebrovascular disease.


RESULTS
Odds ratios for ischemic cerebrovascular disease by ACE genotype classes were not significantly different from 1.0 in women or men in any of the three studies, separately or combined. In a logistic regression analysis that controlled for age and conventional cardiovascular risk factors, odds ratios in either sex still did not significantly differ from 1.0 in any study, separately or combined.


CONCLUSIONS
In two case-referent studies, a cross-sectional study, and the three studies combined, no statistically significant difference was found in the development of ischemic cerebrovascular disease between genotype classes of the ACE gene polymorphism in women or men.
Agerholm-Larsen
B
B
Herlev University Hospital, Denmark.
Tybjaerg-Hansen
A
A
Frikke-Schmidt
R
R
Grønholdt
M L
ML
Jensen
G
G
Nordestgaard
B G
BG
D000483:Alleles; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003718:Denmark; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009154:Mutation; D016017:Odds Ratio; D007703:Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A / Q000235:genetics*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D012306:Risk; D012307:Risk Factors
D007703:Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A