title: The relationship of target organ damage and 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring with vitamin D receptor gene fok-I polymorphism in essential hypertension.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The contribution of genetic factors in hypertension cannot be denied.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study we evaluated the relationship between vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene polymorphisms (Bsm-I, Apa-I and Fok-I), and target organ damage in 74 patients (female/male 49/25, mean age 49.2 +/- 8 years) with essential hypertension. The VDR genotypes were evaluated by polymerase chain reaction and digestion of the amplified products by related enzymes. Patients with diabetes mellitus or impaired glucose tolerance and severe obesity were excluded. All patients underwent a complete physical examination, full biochemistry and urinalysis; in addition, all of them were assessed for target organ damage. Twenty-four-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring was performed in all patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No significant difference was detected in biochemistry results and physical examination between groups for Bsm-I and Apa-I VDR gene polymorphisms. Patients were distributed as FF (n = 39) and non-FF (Ff/ff, n = 35) for Fok-I polymorphism. A negative correlation was present between vitamin D levels and day-time interval and early morning average by the measurement of 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure in the non-FF group. Serum cystatin-C was higher in the non-FF group (p = 0.012). In addition on retinal examination, the degree and presence of retinopathy were significantly higher in the non-FF group when compared to the FF group (p = 0.025, p = 0.018, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Knowing the VDR gene polymorphisms status may be helpful in preventing target organ damage in hypertensive patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, Zonguldak Karaelmas University School of Medicine, Zonguldak, Turkey. eyupkulah@yahoo.co.uk
authors.forename: Eyup
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kulah
authors.forename: Ahmet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dursun
authors.forename: Serefden
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Acikgoz
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Can
authors.forename: Sebnem
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kargi
authors.forename: Sevil
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ilikhan
authors.forename: Sevcan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bozdogan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000235:genetics; D018660:Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D006977:Hypertension, Renal / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D018167:Receptors, Calcitriol / Q000235:genetics*; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D018167:Receptors, Calcitriol