Angiotensin-converting enzyme gene polymorphism in Kuwaiti patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

CER3029
2007 Vol.25, N°3
PI 0437, PF 0442
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PMID: 17631741 [PubMed]

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:
To investigate the frequency of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism genotypes in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and to study the correlation between I/D polymorphism of the ACE gene and the clinical manifestations of SLE, especially vascular involvement, lupus nephritis and disease severity.
METHODS:
The frequency of ACE gene I/D polymorphism genotypes was determined in 92 patients with SLE from Kuwait, and compared to that in 100 ethnically matched healthy controls using the polymerase chain reaction.
RESULTS:
The distribution of ACE I/D polymorphism and allele frequencies in SLE patients was not significantly different from controls. Further analyses of SLE patients showed that there was a significant association between DD genotype and Raynaud`s phenomenon (p = 0.008, odd ratio = 5.4, 95% confidence interval: 1.6-18.6). However, there was no significant association between the ACE genotype and lupus nephritis or disease severity.
CONCLUSIONS:
No difference was found between the distribution of the ACE genotype in SLE patients and the general pop-ulation in Kuwait. However, the presence of the DD genotype may confer susceptibility to the development of vascular morbidity.