GENETIC-VARIATION OF THE ANGIOTENSIN-CONVERTING ENZYME GENE - INCREASED FREQUENCY OF THE INSERTION ALLELE IN KOREANS

In view of the clinical importance of angiotensin-converting enzyme (A CE) as a major marker for cardiovascular diseases, we investigated ins ertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism of the ACE gene in Koreans. Genotyp e frequencies were examined by polymerase chain reaction in 171 patien ts with coronary artery disease (CAD) and 120 healthy subjects. Allele frequencies of ACE polymorphism in Koreans were not significantly dif ferent between patient and control groups. In addition, association be tween ACE genotypes and the number of stenosed coronary arteries was n ot detected. ACE genotypes in the CAD group were not associated with b ody mass index and plasma lipid levels. Thus, our results suggest that , at least in Koreans, IID polymorphism of the gene is unlikely to be a useful marker for CAD subjects. However, the I allele frequency of K oreans (0.58) was higher than that of Caucasian populations (0.47) but lower than that of Samoan (0.91) and Yanomami (0.85) populations. Her e, we discuss the clinical and ethnic importance of ACE polymorphism.