Angiotensin-converting enzyme gene polymorphism is associated with carotid arterial wall thickness in non-insulin-dependent diabetic patients

Circulation. 1996 Aug 15;94(4):704-7. doi: 10.1161/01.cir.94.4.704.

Abstract

Background: The insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism of the ACE gene has been shown to be associated with cardiovascular disease in healthy subjects as well as in patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). We investigated the relationship between the ACE gene polymorphism and the wall thickness of both carotid and femoral arteries in NIDDM patients.

Methods and results: We measured the intimal plus medial thickness (IMT) of both carotid and femoral arteries using high-resolution B-mode ultrasonography in 288 Japanese NIDDM patients (160 men, 128 women). No significant differences among the three genotypes were found with respect to age, sex, duration of diabetes, body mass index, blood pressure, plasma glucose, hemoglobin AIC, total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL cholesterol, or cigarette-years. Plasma ACE levels were strongly associated with I/D polymorphism, with an additive effect of the D alleles. The carotid IMT of the patients carrying the D allele (DD+ID genotype) was significantly higher than that of the patients not carrying the D allele (II genotype) (P = .037), whereas the femoral IMT was not affected by the I/D polymorphism. Multiple regression analysis demonstrated that the risk factors for carotid IMT of patients with NIDDM were age, non-HDL cholesterol, and D allele of the ACE gene (R2 = .155, P < .0001).

Conclusions: The D allele of the ACE gene may be a risk factor for the development of wall thickening of the carotid but not the femoral artery in NIDDM patients.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Analysis of Variance
  • Carotid Arteries / diagnostic imaging
  • Carotid Arteries / pathology*
  • DNA / blood
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / genetics*
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / pathology
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / physiopathology
  • Female
  • Femoral Artery / pathology
  • Genotype
  • Humans
  • Leukocytes
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A / genetics*
  • Polymorphism, Genetic*
  • Reference Values
  • Regression Analysis
  • Tunica Intima / diagnostic imaging
  • Tunica Intima / pathology
  • Tunica Media / diagnostic imaging
  • Tunica Media / pathology
  • Ultrasonography

Substances

  • DNA
  • Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A