title: Gene polymorphisms of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system and essential arterial hypertension in childhood.
abstract: In order to investigate the contribution of candidate genes in the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) in pathogenesis of essential arterial hypertension (EAH), the I/D polymorphism of ACE gene, the M235T polymorphism of the angiotensinogen gene, and the angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AGT,R) A1166C gene polymorphism in a group of children with EAH were analyzed. Fifty-scven children, aged 8-19 years. with the diagnosis of EAH were included in the association study and were compared with 57 subjects with normal blood pressure (the control group). Arterial hypertension was defined as systolic/diastolic blood pressure measurements higher than 95 age-gender-height percentile of the adopted reference values. A trend was found towards an association between the M235T angiotensinogen gene polymorphism and EAH in childhood in a dominant model (odds ratio (OR) 2.1; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.9-5.1; P = 0.077), whereas the authors failed to demonstrate an association between the ACE I/D gene polymorphism, or the A1166C AGT1R gene polymorphism and EAH in childhood. Additionally, evidence was found of interaction between the angiotensinogen-TT genotype and obesity on the risk of EAH in childhood (OR 19.3; 95% CI 1.1-77.3; P = 0.014). In conclusion, the M235T angiotensinogen gene polymorphism is considered alone as well as in interaction with obesity to be risk factors for EAH in childhood.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Histology and Embryology, Medical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Kortikova 2, 1105 Ljubljana, Slovenia. daniel.petrovic@mf.uni-lj.si
authors.forename: Danijel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Petrovic
authors.forename: Matja
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bidovec
authors.forename: Borut
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Peterlin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D012084:Renin-Angiotensin System / Q000235:genetics*; D012307:Risk Factors