Angiotensin-converting enzyme insertion/deletion polymorphism and retinal artery occlusion.
OBJECTIVE
An insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism of the gene for angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) is associated with higher ACE plasma levels and activity. This enzyme is known to play an important role in blood pressure regulation and the ACE I/D gene polymorphism has been suggested as a risk factor for atherosclerotic vascular diseases. The purpose of the present study was to investigate a hypothesized association between the ACE I/D polymorphism and retinal artery occlusion (RAO).


METHODS
A total of 159 patients with RAO and 304 control subjects were enrolled in the present retrospective case-control study. ACE I/D genotypes were determined by polymerase chain reaction.


RESULTS
Allelic frequencies and genotype distribution of the ACE I/D polymorphism did not significantly differ between patients and control subjects (ACE DD 25.8% versus 28.0%; p = 0.36). A logistic regression analysis predicted the presence of RAO by arterial hypertension and current smoking status, but not by ACE I/D genotypes.


CONCLUSIONS
Our data suggest that the ACE I/D polymorphism is not a major risk factor for RAO.
Schäfer
Elke
E
Department of Ophthalmology, Medical University Graz, Graz, Austria.
Weger
Martin
M
Birgül
Tolga
T
Renner
Wilfried
W
Stanger
Olaf
O
Steinbrugger
Iris
I
Schmut
Otto
O
Temmel
Werner
W
Haas
Anton
A
D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D017353:Gene Deletion; D005787:Gene Frequency; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D016254:Mutagenesis, Insertional / Q000235:genetics*; D007703:Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A / Q000235:genetics*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D015356:Retinal Artery Occlusion / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000235:genetics
D004247:DNA; D007703:Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A