ASSOCIATION OF HINCII RFLP OF LOW-DENSITY-LIPOPROTEIN RECEPTOR GENE WITH OBESITY IN ESSENTIAL HYPERTENSIVES

Obese (BMI greater than or equal to 26 kg/m(2); n=51) and lean (BMI <2 6 kg/m(2); n=61) Caucasian patients with severe, familial essential hy pertension, were compared with respect to genotype and allele frequenc ies of a HincII RFLP of the low density lipoprotein receptor gene (LDL R). A similar analysis was performed in obese (n=28) and lean (n=68) n ormotensives. A significant association of the C allele of the T-->C v ariant responsible for this RFLP was seen with obesity (chi(2)=4.6, P= 0.029) in the hypertensive, but not in the normotensive, group (odds r atio=3.0 for the CC genotype and 2.7 for CT). Furthermore, BMI tracked with genotypes of this allele in the hypertensives (P=0.046). No sign ificant genotypic relationship was apparent for plasma lipids. Signifi cant linkage disequilibrium was, moreover, noted between the HincII RF LP and an ApaLI RFLP (chi(2)=33, P<0.0005) that has previously shown e ven stronger association with obesity (odds ratio 19.6 for cases homoz ygous for the susceptibility allele and 15.2 for heterozygotes). The p resent study therefore adds to our previous evidence implicating LDLR as a locus for obesity in patients with essential hypertension.