title: The association between circulating angiotensin-converting enzyme and cardiovascular risk in the elderly: a cross-sectional study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A polymorphism in the angiotensin-converting enzyme gene (ACE I/D polymorphism) has been associated with increased risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD). This polymorphism affects the level of circulating ACE, but there is great individual variation, even between those with the same genotype. Few previous studies have investigated the link between circulating ACE and cardiovascular risk. The aim of this study was to investigate this association, and to examine the relationship between ACE level, ACE genotype and CVD.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study population consisted of 322 men and 350 women aged 69-87. Plasma ACE level was determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and ACE genotype was analysed using PCR followed by gel electrophoresis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In men, ACE levels increased with increasing number of cardiovascular risk factors (p = 0.003). There was a significant association in men between increased ACE level and both diabetes (p = 0.007) and smoking (p = 0.037).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study shows that cardiovascular risk factors (such as smoking and diabetes) are associated with higher levels of circulating ACE in men. High ACE levels may represent one of the cellular mechanisms involved in producing the vascular damage associated with cardiovascular risk factors.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medical and Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping University, Sweden. liza.ljungberg@liu.se
authors.forename: Liza
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ljungberg
authors.forename: Urban
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Alehagen
authors.forename: Toste
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Länne
authors.forename: Hanna
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Björck
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: De Basso
authors.forename: Ulf
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Dahlström
authors.forename: Karin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Persson
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D054643:INDEL Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D007703:Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D012307:Risk Factors; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: C488034:ACE protein, human; D007703:Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A