ANGIOTENSIN-CONVERTING ENZYME GENE POLYMORPHISM AND THE RISK AND EXTENT OF ISCHEMIC-HEART-DISEASE AMONG TURKISH PATIENTS

Objective To evaluate the effects of the angiotensin converting enzyme gene polymorphism on the presence and extent of coronary artery disea se and myocardial infarction among Turkish patients. Methods In total 393 consecutive patients undergoing coronary angiography were evaluate d for cardiac risk factors including the lipoprotein profile, lipoprot ein (a), apoprotein B, and apoprotein A(1) levels. The angiotensin con verting enzyme genotype was determined by polymerase chain reaction. T he extent of coronary atherosclerosis was determined from the angiogra ms using the Gensini and Leaman scores. Results The angiotensin conver ting enzyme genotype was found not to be associated either with corona ry artery disease (odds ratio 0.81, P> 0.05) or with myocardial infarc tion (odds ratio 1.16, P> 0.05), Exclusion of high-risk individuals fa iled to reveal any association for these subgroups, Furthermore, there was no association between aneurysm formation and the genotype (P> 0. 05), The lipid parameters were also not affected by the genotype (P> 0 .05). However, the extent of coronary atherosclerosis determined by th e Gensini score was related significantly to the genotype by multivari ate analysis (P = 0.007). Conclusion The DD genotype is not associated with coronary artery disease and myocardial infarction among these an giographically assessed Turkish patients, even when low-risk subgroups are analysed, Nonetheless, the extent of coronary atherosclerosis in patients with coronary artery disease is affected by their genotype.