ACE gene polymorphism and long-term renal graft function

Objectives: The long-term outcome of transplanted kidneys has not changed s ubstantially and only a minority of grafts survives more than 15 yr. The ai m of this study was to determine the influence of ACE gene polymorphism on long-term outcome after renal transplantation. Design and methods: Using PCR, we evaluated ACE IID gene polymorphism in a group of patients with long-term graft function (LTF) over 15 yr and compar ed it with control groups of transplant recipients and population sample. Results: The distribution of genotypes in the LTF group differed from trans plant controls (p < 0.05). Moreover, DD homozygotes in the LTF group had be tter creatinine clearance (DD: 1.1 +/- 0.3, ID: 0.96 +/- 0.3, II: 0.76 +/- 0.3 mL/s; p < 0.05). There were no differences in genotype distribution bet ween transplant and population samples. Conclusions: Results of our study have demonstrated a possible connection b etween the DD variant of ACE VD gene polymorphism and excellent long-term g raft function. (C) 2001 The Canadian Society of Clinical Chemists. All righ ts reserved.