title: Angiotensin-converting enzyme insertion/deletion polymorphism and retinal artery occlusion.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Medical University Graz, Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: Elke
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Schäfer
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Weger
authors.forename: Tolga
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Birgül
authors.forename: Wilfried
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Renner
authors.forename: Olaf
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Stanger
authors.forename: Iris
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Steinbrugger
authors.forename: Otto
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Schmut
authors.forename: Werner
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Temmel
authors.forename: Anton
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Haas
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D004247:DNA; D007703:Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A