Objective: [corrected] To clarify the association between ACE gene polymorphism and therapeutic responsiveness of ACEI in diabetic nephropathy.
Method: With the polymerase chain reaction technique, the angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) gene insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism was studied in 31 NIDDM patients, 58 NIDDM patients with nephropathy, and 50 normal controls.
Results: There was no significant difference in the frequency of ACE genotypes among those NIDDM patients, NIDDM patients with nephropathy and nomal controls. Among 40 patients of DN group treated with ACE inhibitor(ACE-I), there was significant difference in genotype distribution between 19 efficacious cases and 21 nonefficacious cases: 8/2/9 vs 1/3/17 had DD/DI/II genotypes responsively (P < 0.01), DD genotype was best and II genotype was worst in therapeutic efficacy of ACE-I in NIDDM patients with nephropathy.
Conclusion: The examination of ACE gene polymorphism is helpful for the diagnosis of the therapeutic efficacy of ACE-I in NIDDM with nephropathy.