POLYMORPHISMS WITHIN THE ATRIAL-NATRIURETIC-PEPTIDE GENE IN ESSENTIAL-HYPERTENSION

Objective: To investigate polymorphisms in the atrial natriuretic pept ide gene of African Americans at intron two (Hpall) and exon three (Se al). Results: The allele frequency of the Hpall mutation was 25% in th e hypertensive group (n = 60) compared with only 3.4% in normotensive individuals (n = 44, P < 0.0001). The genotype heterozygote for the pr esent mutation was much more common among those with hypertension (50 versus 6.8%, P < 0.0001). The groups were no different for the Seal si te alone, although the two mutations were present together more often in the hypertensive group. The Hpall mutation was associated with hype rtension in this typically salt-sensitive population.