Angiotensin I-converting enzyme gene polymorphism in a low-risk European population for coronary artery disease

An insertion/deletion I/D) polymorphism of the angiotensin I-converting enz yme (ACE) has been associated with an increased risk of coronary artery dis ease (CAD) and myocardial infarction (MI). However, this finding has not be en fully investigated in European populations with very low CAD risk. In a case-control study on a population from Southern Europe (Toulouse, France), we evaluated the ACE I/D polymorphism in 405 men, aged 35-65 years, who un derwent coronary angiography and in 357 representative control men within t he same age range. We also explored associations in the patients between th is polymorphism and CAD severity. The ACE genotype was not associated with the presence of either CAD or MI. The ACE genotype was not a marker for ang iographically assessed CAD severity. In a sample in one of the European pop ulations with the lowest CAD risk, ACE I/D polymorphism was not associated with an increased risk for CAD or MI and did not influence the extent of CA D. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.