POLYMORPHISM OF A DINUCLEOTIDE REPEAT WITHIN THE ALDOSE REDUCTASE GENE IN NORMALCY AND INSULIN-DEPENDENT DIABETES WITH VASCULAR COMPLICATIONS

Frequencies of alleles and genotypes for the (AC)(n) repeat in the ald ose reductase gene (locus ALR2) were determined among healthy individu als and among patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) without and with vascular complications (diabetic nephro-and retinopa thy), There proved to be seven alleles ranging from 132 to 144 bp. In the control group, allele Z+4 was 10.7 times more frequent than in ano ther European population (Britons) studied earlier. No statistically s ignificant differences were detected in the ALR2 allele and genotype d istributions in uncomplicated versus complicated IDDM, except for the Z/Z-2 genotype which was 11.5 times more frequent in retinopathic diab etics than in IDDM patients (0.368 vs. 0.032, P = 0.00305. Thus, the g roups studied show no association of the ALR2 locus with the vascular complications of diabetes.