Influence of angiotensin-converting enzyme gene polymorphism on development of athlete's heart.
OBJECTIVE
Genetic influence on development of athlete's heart is uncertain. This study investigated whether angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene polymorphism influenced development of athlete's heart.


METHODS
Forty-three participants in a 100-km ultramarathon were classified on the basis of ACE gene polymorphism into a deletion group (n = 26) and an insertion group (n = 17). Echocardiograms were recorded to determine left ventricular end-diastolic and end-systolic diameters, interventricular septal thickness, left ventricular posterior wall thickness, left ventricular mass, and ejection fraction.


RESULTS
Left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (65.5 +/- 4.0 mm) and left ventricular mass (369.5 +/- 73.9 g) were significantly larger in the subjects with deletion than in those with insertion (57.4 +/- 4.2 mm, 306.5 +/- 93.7 g). However, no significant differences in the other parameters were noted.


CONCLUSIONS
In long-distance runners, ACE gene polymorphism of the D/D and D/I genotypes has a stronger influence on left ventricular hypertrophy than polymorphism of the I/I genotype.
Nagashima
J
J
Department of Cardiology, St. Marianna University School of Medicine, Kawasaki, Japan.
Musha
H
H
Takada
H
H
Awaya
T
T
Oba
H
H
Mori
N
N
Ohmiya
K
K
Nobuoka
S
S
Murayama
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D006801:Humans; D017379:Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D007703:Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A / Q000235:genetics*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D013177:Sports
D007703:Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A