LACK OF ASSOCIATION OF ANGIOTENSIN-II TYPE-1 RECEPTOR GENE POLYMORPHISM WITH DIABETIC NEPHROPATHY IN INSULIN-DEPENDENT DIABETES-MELLITUS

Several observations suggest that inherited factors are influential in the development of nephropathy in patients with insulin-dependent dia betes mellitus (IDDM). Genetic components of the renin angiotensin sys tem are possible candidate genes. The aim of this study was to determi ne the role of the hypertension associated angiotensin II type 1 recep tor (AT1R) gene A(1166)C polymorphism in susceptibility to nephropathy in IDDM. We examined 264 Caucasoid patients with IDDM and overt nephr opathy (as defined by persistent proteinuria in the absence of other c auses, hypertension and retinopathy), 136 IDDM patients with long dura tion of diabetes and no nephropathy (LDNN group), 200 recently diagnos ed IDDM patients (Sporadic Diabetic group), and 212 non-diabetic subje cts. The AT1R gene polymorphism was assessed using the polymerase chai n reaction and restriction isotyping. Genotype frequencies did not dif fer significantly between the sporadic diabetic group and the nephropa thy group (p = 0.245), nor between the long duration non-nephropathy g roup and the nephropathy group (p = 0.250). Allele frequencies were no t significantly different between the three groups (p = 0.753). We con clude that there is no significant association between the hypertensio n associated AT1R gene polymorphism and diabetic nephropathy in patien ts with IDDM in the UK. (C) 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.