Angiotensin converting enzyme insertion/deletion polymorphism does not alter sepsis outcome in ventilated very low birth weight infants.
OBJECTIVE
This study compared the effect of the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphisms on the incidence and outcome of sepsis in ventilated very low birth weight infants.


METHODS
Infectious complications were retrospectively determined in 295 (234 African-American, 58 Caucasian and three Hispanic) mechanically ventilated very low birth weight (VLBW) infants (<1500 g at birth) and compared ACE I/D genotype.


RESULTS
The incidence of the D allele in the study population was 0.60. A total of 113 (38.3%) infants were homozygous DD, 128 (43.4%) were heterozygous ID and 54 (18.3%) were homozygous II. One or more episodes of late BSI developed in 28 (52%) of 54 infants with the II genotype, 66 (52%) of 128 infants with the ID genotype and 52 (46%) of 113 infants with the DD genotype (p=0.618). Neither the rates of non-CONS BSI (II: 24%, ID: 23%, DD: 22%; p=0.937) nor multiple bacteremic/fungemic episodes (II: 13%, ID: 16%, DD: 12%; p=0.641) were different between genotype groups. The ACE I/D polymorphism had no effect on sepsis-related mortality (II: 7%, ID: 5%, DD: 4%; p=0.692). Sepsis mortality for infants with late BSI was 14% in infants with the II genotype, 9% with the ID genotype and 10% with the DD genotype (p=0.764).


CONCLUSIONS
The ACE I/D polymorphism does not have a significant effect on the incidence or outcome of sepsis in ventilated VLBW infants.
John Baier
R
R
Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3E 0L8, Canada.
Loggins
John
J
Yanamandra
Krishna
K
D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D017353:Gene Deletion; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight; D008297:Male; D007703:Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A / Q000235:genetics*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D012121:Respiration, Artificial; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018805:Sepsis / Q000235:genetics / Q000401:mortality*
D007703:Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A