Association between iris constitution and apolipoprotein e gene polymorphism in hypertensives.
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.
Um
Jae-Young
JY
Department of Pharmacology, College of Oriental Medicine, Kyung Hee University, 1 Hoigi-Dong, Dongdaemun-Gu, Seoul 130-701, South Korea.
Hwang
Chung-Yeon
CY
Hwang
Woo-Jun
WJ
Kang
Sung-Do
SD
Do
Keum-Rok
KR
Cho
Ju-Jang
JJ
Cho
Jae-Woon
JW
Kim
Sung-Hoon
SH
Shin
Tae-Yong
TY
Kim
Yun-Kyung
YK
Kim
Hyung-Min
HM
Hong
Seung-Heon
SH
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
D001057:Apolipoproteins E