No association of an insertion/deletion polymorphism in the angiotensin I converting enzyme gene with bipolar or unipolar affective disorders

A recent Japanese study on the angiotensin I converting enzyme gene (ACE) i nsertion/deletion polymorphism reported that both the D allele (P < 0.02) a nd the DD genotype (P < 0.002) were significantly more frequent in affectiv e disorder cases than in controls [Arinami et al,, 1996: Biol Psychiatry 40 : 1122-1127], A replication study was performed by using 157 bipolar I affe ctive disorder cases, 169 major depressive disorder cases, and 313 controls . No significant association with this polymorphism was found in either dis order or in a combined affective disorder group. These results do not suppo rt the ACE gene having a major role in the etiology of either bipolar or un ipolar affective disorders. (C) 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.