Hypertension-related gene polymorphisms in pre-eclampsia, eclampsia and gestational hypertension in Black South African women.
OBJECTIVE
To examine whether polymorphisms in the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) are associated with pregnancy-related hypertensive disorders in a black South African population.


METHODS
The angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) insertion/deletion, angiotensinogen M235T and angiotensin II receptor type 1 1166A<--C polymorphisms were assessed in study groups comprising 204 women with pre-eclampsia, 120 with eclampsia, 67 with early onset pre-eclampsia and 78 with gestational hypertension.


METHODS
Using chi analysis, results were compared with those obtained from 338 ethnically matched normotensive pregnant women following normal full term pregnancies. No significant differences in the distribution of any of these polymorphisms were found between patients with pre-eclampsia or eclampsia and the normal control subjects. Patients with gestational hypertension were less frequently homozygous for the ACE insertion polymorphism compared with controls (5 versus 13%, respectively; P = 0.049; odds ratio 0.36 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.09-1.04]).


CONCLUSIONS
The commonly occurring RAS polymorphisms are not predictive of pre-eclampsia or eclampsia in the Black South African population.
Roberts
Candice B
CB
Departments of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, MRC/UN Pregnancy Hypertension Research Unit, Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, University of Natal, Private Bag 7, Congella, 4013 Durban, South Africa.
Rom
Lee
L
Moodley
Jack
J
Pegoraro
Rosemary J
RJ
D000328:Adult; D000808:Angiotensinogen / Q000235:genetics*; D044383:Black People; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006579:Heterozygote; D006720:Homozygote; D006801:Humans; D046110:Hypertension, Pregnancy-Induced / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007703:Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A / Q000235:genetics*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000235:genetics*; D011247:Pregnancy; D044140:Receptor, Angiotensin, Type 1 / Q000235:genetics*; D013019:South Africa
D044140:Receptor, Angiotensin, Type 1; D000808:Angiotensinogen; D007703:Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A