A1166C polymorphism of angiotensin II type 1 receptor, blood pressure and arterial stiffness in hypertension.
OBJECTIVE
To study the association of the AC polymorphism of angiotensin II type 1 receptor gene (AGTR1) with blood pressure and central arterial stiffness in a population of hypertensive patients referred to hospital for further work-up.


METHODS
One hundred and eighty-five patients, referred to our department from April 1998 to February 2002, were included. Blood pressure was measured by conventional and 24-h ambulatory methods, and arterial stiffness by carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV) determination. Genotyping for the AGTR1 AC polymorphism was performed by polymerase chain reaction.


RESULTS
AGTR1 AC polymorphism was not associated with systolic or diastolic blood pressure, measured either by conventional (P=0.89 and P=0.67, respectively) or by 24-h ambulatory (P=0.57 and P=0.56, respectively) methods. Conversely, this polymorphism was significantly associated with PWV (P=0.006) and had a dose-allele effect, PWV increasing with the number of A alleles (10.6 +/- 2.4 m/s in CC, 11.9 +/- 2.5 m/s in AC and 12.7 +/- 2.7 m/s in AA patients, P=0.002). Multiple regression analysis showed that AC polymorphism was still independently associated with PWV (P=0.01) and was the third most important determinant of PWV after age (P <0.0001) and 24-h mean blood pressure (P <0.0001).


CONCLUSIONS
In our study population, central arterial stiffness assessed by PWV was significantly and independently associated with the AC polymorphism, increased PWV being associated with the presence of the A allele. Further investigations are required for identification of the underlying mechanisms.
UMR-MA 103, Université Lyon 1-ENVL, Laboratoire de Physiologie, Faculté de Médecine Grange Blanche, Service de Cardiologie, Hôpital de la Croix-Rousse, Lyon, France.
Stéphany
S
Gardier
Madeleine
M
Vincent
Pierre
P
Lantelme
Marie-Odile
MO
Rial
Giampiero
G
Bricca
Hugues
H
Milon
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000450:Aldosterone / Q000378:metabolism; D000483:Alleles; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011187:Posture; D044140:Receptor, Angiotensin, Type 1 / Q000235:genetics*
D044140:Receptor, Angiotensin, Type 1; D000450:Aldosterone