Aim: The DD genotype of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) has been suggested as a major contributor of diabetic nephropathy in several populations. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether micro/macroalbuminuria is associated with ACE insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism in Mexican Mestizos with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Methods: A total of 435 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, of whom 233 had albuminuria, were characterized for the ACE I/D polymorphism by the polymerase chain reaction method.
Results: Clinical and biochemical characteristics and frequencies according to DD, ID and II genotypes in patients with and without albuminuria showed no significant differences. However, only females with micro/macroalbuminuria showed higher frequency of a DD genotype than those without albuminuria (27.9%, 21.2% and 10.5%, respectively; P <or= 0.044). In addition, female patients with macroalbuminuria without dialysis showed no significant differences with patients undergoing dialysis.
Conclusion: The ACE DD genotype is a risk factor for the development of renal disease in Mexican Mestizo females with type 2 diabetes, indicating a possible DD genotype-associated sex effect in renal disease.