Angiotensin-converting enzyme gene polymorphism and carotid artery wall thickness: a meta-analysis.
OBJECTIVE
Many studies have investigated the association between the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism and carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT); however, most studies were small and conducted in selective samples. The aim of this study was to evaluate this association by performing a meta-analysis on published articles.


METHODS
We searched Medline for articles studying the association between the ACE I/D polymorphism and carotid IMT. Twenty-six studies were found; 23 articles containing 9833 subjects were qualified to enter the meta-analysis. We classified those articles on the basis of their samples into high-risk and low-risk populations and white and Asian ethnic groups. IMT was used as a continuous variable, and data were analyzed with the Cochrane Review Manager.


RESULTS
A significant positive association was present between the D allele and common carotid IMT (weighted mean difference between DD and II genotypes, 0.23 mm x 10(-1); P<0.01). The association was stronger among high-risk populations. The point estimates of DD versus II were higher than those of ID versus II.


CONCLUSIONS
Our meta-analysis showed evidence of a positive association between the D allele of the ACE gene and common carotid IMT. The overall results were concordant in both ethnic groups.
Sayed-Tabatabaei
Fakhredin A
FA
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Houwing-Duistermaat
Jeanine J
JJ
van Duijn
Cornelia M
CM
Witteman
Jacqueline C M
JC
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000483:Alleles; D044466:Asian People / Q000235:genetics; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D007703:Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A / Q000235:genetics*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D012306:Risk; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D017540:Tunica Media / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014463:Ultrasonography; D044465:White People / Q000235:genetics
D007703:Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A