title: Angiotensin converting enzyme gene insertion/deletion polymorphism in idiopathic nephrotic syndrome in Kuwaiti Arab children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) gene insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism influence the circulating and cellular levels of ACE and has been shown to be a risk factor in a number of diseases including IgA nephropathy. We have investigated the association of ACE gene I/D polymorphism with the clinical presentation of idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (INS) in Kuwaiti children.
  
  
  METHODS
  The genotypes for ACE gene I/D polymorphism were determined in 102 subjects (54 INS cases and 48 healthy controls) using a PCR method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The distribution of DD, ID and II genotypes was 70%, 20% and 10% in INS cases compared with 52%, 46% and 2% in the controls. The mean age of onset of the disease was significantly lower in the INS cases with DD genotype (37 months) compared with cases with II genotype (65 months, p < 0.05). The clinical manifestation of the disease was considerably severe in cases with DD genotypes compared with cases having ID and II genotypes. The INS cases with DD genotype also showed a significantly higher incidence of steroid sensitivity and steroid dependence. Seventy-three per cent of the INS cases with minimal change lesion had a DD genotype. Also 70% of the cases which needed cytotoxic drugs had DD genotype.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data suggest an association of the D-allele of the ACE gene I/D polymorphism with the clinical manifestation of INS in Kuwaiti Arab children.
authors.affiliation: Paediatrics Department, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Kuwait.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Al-Eisa
authors.forename: M Z
authors.initials: MZ
authors.lastname: Haider
authors.forename: B S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Srivastva
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007730:Kuwait; D008297:Male; D009404:Nephrotic Syndrome / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics*; D007703:Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A / Q000235:genetics*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic
chemical_list: D007703:Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A