title: The effect of angiotensin-converting enzyme genotype on acute mountain sickness and summit success in trekkers attempting the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro (5,895 m).
abstract: The I-allele rather than the D-allele of the human angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) gene has been associated with high-altitude mountaineering success. We investigated whether the I-allele was associated with summit success, and also with AMS development, in altitude-naïve trekkers. Subjects ascended from 1,860 m to the summit over 4 days (n = 34, 'direct-profile') or 5 days (n = 82, 'slower-profile'). Proportionally more II direct-profile subjects were successful than ID or DD, although the difference was not significant (100% of II subjects, 52% ID and 43% DD, P = 0.09). There was no difference in success amongst subjects on the slower-profile (50% II, 45% ID and 58% DD, P = 0.54). There was a non-significant trend for increasing AMS scores in ID/DD subjects. Amongst tourist trekkers on Mt. Kilimanjaro the I-allele is not associated with summit success. No evidence is found to support an association between ACE genotype and AMS development.
authors.affiliation: Manchester Altitude Research Society, The Medical School, University of Manchester, Stopford Building, Oxford Road, Manchester, UK. nickkalson@gmail.com
authors.forename: Nicholas S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Kalson
authors.forename: Julian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: Andrew J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Davies
authors.forename: Suzy
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Stokes
authors.forename: Mark D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Earl
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Whitehead
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Tyrrell-Marsh
authors.forename: Hannah
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Frost
authors.forename: Hugh
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Montgomery
mesh_terms: D000064:Acclimatization / Q000235:genetics; D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000483:Alleles; D000532:Altitude Sickness / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009051:Mountaineering / Q000502:physiology*; D007703:Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A / Q000235:genetics*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013636:Tanzania; D013996:Time and Motion Studies
chemical_list: D007703:Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A