Lack of association between deletion polymorphism of the ACE gene and ischemic vascular diseases in a Chinese population in Taiwan.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The association between deletion/insertion polymorphism of the angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) gene and ischemic vascular diseases (IVDs) is still unclear. This study was designed to evaluate the role of ACE gene polymorphism in the pathogenesis of IVDs in a Chinese population living in Taiwan. METHODS: A case-control study was carried out to examine the association of the ACE gene genotype and the allele frequency in 400 IVD patients, including 214 patients with ischemic cerebrovascular disease (ICVD) and 186 patients with ischemic heart disease (IHD), compared with 200 control individuals. RESULTS: Although the patients with ICVD and IHD were found to have higher frequencies of the D/D genotype (22% and 43%) and the D allele (20% and 42%) than the controls (16% and 39%), the statistical differences were not significant, as shown by chi 2 analysis (p > 0.05). Upon further comparison of the frequencies of the D allele among the two sexes and different age subgroups, there was still no significant association. CONCLUSIONS: Deletion polymorphism of the ACE gene was not associated with IVD in a Chinese population in Taiwan. The unique or synergistic effect of other genes that might contribute to the pathogenesis of IVDs needs further investigation.