FREQUENCY OF A DELETION POLYMORPHISM IN THE GENE FOR ANGIOTENSIN-CONVERTING ENZYME IS INCREASED IN AFRICAN-AMERICANS WITH HYPERTENSION

In white populations, a deletion polymorphism in the gene for angioten sin converting enzyme (ACE) appears to be associated with increased ri sk for myocardial infarction but not for hypertension. In a population -association study;in African-Americans, we compared the frequency of the ACE deletion polymorphism in subjects with hypertension versus tho se with normal blood pressure. The frequency of the ACE deletion allel e was greater in African-Americans with hypertension than in those wit h normal blood pressure (P < 0.05). These findings raise the possibili ty that in some patient subgroups, sequence variation in or near the A CE gene may contribute to the risk for hypertension.