title: Association between iris constitution and apolipoprotein e gene polymorphism in hypertensives.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Iridology is a complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) that involves the diagnosis of medical conditions by noting irregularities of the pigmentation in the iris. Iris constitution has a strong familial aggregation and heredity is implicated. Apolipoprotein E (apoE) gene polymorphism is one of the most well-studied genetic markers for vascular diseases, including hypertension. In this study, we investigated the relationship between iris constitution and apoE polymorphism in hypertensives.
  
  
  METHODS
  We classified 87 hypertensives and 79 controls according to iris constitution and determined the apoE genotype of each individual.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A significantly higher percentage of individuals with neurogenic constitutions was found in the hypertensive group when compared with the control group (chi(2) = 40.244, p < 0.001). In addition, a neurogenic constitution increased the relative risk for hypertension for subjects with an apo epsilon2 or an epsilon4 allele (chi(2) = 4.086, p = 0.049, odds ratio = 2.633, confidence interval = 1.004-6.905).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results imply that a neurogenic iris constitution enhances the relative risk for hypertension in subjects with the apo epsilon2 or epsilon4 allele. Furthermore, we attempted to evaluate the efficacy of iris constitutional medicine and to find an association with hypertension.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, College of Oriental Medicine, Kyung Hee University, 1 Hoigi-Dong, Dongdaemun-Gu, Seoul 130-701, South Korea.
authors.forename: Jae-Young
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Um
authors.forename: Chung-Yeon
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Woo-Jun
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Sung-Do
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Keum-Rok
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Do
authors.forename: Ju-Jang
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Jae-Woon
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Sung-Hoon
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Tae-Yong
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Yun-Kyung
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hyung-Min
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Seung-Heon
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Hong
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000235:genetics*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000379:methods*; D003941:Diagnostic Techniques, Ophthalmological; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000235:genetics*; D007498:Iris / Q000473:pathology*; D007723:Korea; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D001057:Apolipoproteins E