Association Between M235T-AGT and I/D-ACE Polymorphisms and Carotid Atheromatosis in Hypertensive Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background/aim: The renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) may be implicated in carotid atheromatosis (CA) development. We aimed to assess the relationship of M235T-angiotensinogen (AGT) and insertion/deletion of angiotensin conversion enzyme (I/D-ACE) genotypes with CA in patients with essential hypertension (EHT).

Patients and methods: We determined the M235T-AGT and I/D-ACE genotypes, using PCR-RFLP methods, in 162 hypertensive subjects from three tertiary regional medical centers. The relationship between the studied RAAS gene polymorphisms and CA was assessed by multiple logistic regressions.

Results: Hypertensive patients carrying the MT/TT235-AGT and MT235-AGT genotypes had a 2.17-fold (p=0.033) and 2.24-fold (p=0.036) increased risk to develop CA, respectively. These genotypes, MT/TT 235-AGT (OR=2.17, p=0.033) and MT235-AGT (OR=2.24, p=0.036), remain independent risk factors for CA in hypertensive patients according to the multivariate model.

Conclusion: There is a statistically significant association between M235T-AGT and CA, when adjusting for several confounders and controlling for hypertension.

Keywords: Essential hypertension; I/D-ACE genotype; M235T-AGT genotype; carotid atheromatosis.