Study of the correlation between ACE gene polymorphism and coronary artery disease

Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) is an exopeptidase that converts Angiotensin I to Angiotensin II. Angiotensin II is a potent vasoconstrictor and releases aldosterone, and have a critical role in hypertension. In this study, ACE insertion / deletion (I/D) polymorphism and ACE activity was determined in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and normal subjects. The correlation of these parameters with important CAD risk factors were also evaluated. 204 subjects were assigned to patients and normal groups based on their angiography results. Serum ACE activities were assayed by HPLC and I/D polymorphism were analyzed by PCR method. Important risk factors such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, lipid profiles, ejection fraction, smoking and opium consumption were also recorded. CAD was higher in DD genotype subjects (OR= 2.45; CI= 1.05-5.73), and ACE activity was about twice in DD compared to II genotypes. ACE activity was higher in hypertensives and diabetics in CAD group (p<0.001), but in the normal group it did not have any correlation with these risk factors. The rate of opium use was higher in ID and DD subjects. DD genotype is a risk factor for CAD and ACE activity is higher in this genotype. However, there is not any correlation between ACE activity and CAD.