GLUCAGON RECEPTOR GLY40SER AMINO-ACID VARIANT IN SARDINIAN HYPERTENSIVE NON-INSULIN-DEPENDENT DIABETIC-PATIENTS

A significantly different prevalence in the Gly40Ser variant of the gl ucagon receptor gene in a small group of essential hypertensive patien ts compared with normotensive probands was described in a Caucasian po pulation. It has been postulated that this variant may exacerbate the antinatriuretic effect of high plasma insulin levels commonly seen in hypertensive subjects, leading to volume expansion and rise in blood p ressure level. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of the Gly40Ser variant in a population of 404 non-insulin-dependent dia betic patients of Sardinian origin. No association of the Gly40Ser var iant with hypertension was seen in this large population.