Gene-gene interaction in the RAS system in the predisposition to myocardial infarction in elder population of St. Petersburg (Russia)

The aim of this study was to estimate the frequencies of some DNA polymorph isms of two genes of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS), M235T angiotensino gen gene and insertion-deletion polymorphism in angiotensin-converting enzy me gene, in older (>55 years old) myocardial infarction survival and contro l groups. For this purpose 198 myocardial infarction (MI) patients and 152 randomly selected healthy persons have been analyzed. We have not found any differences in allele and genotype distribution in the above-mentioned gen es for either group. However, statistical research showed a significant inc rease of double homozygotes IITT in the group of MI patients as compared wi th those in the control group. In this respect we suggested that gene-gene interaction in the RAS system may be considered to be a predisposing factor for MI development. (C) 2000 Academic Press.