Objective: To investigate the relationship of an insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism of the angiotension-converting enzyme (ACE) gene to obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) patients and the control subjects.
Methods: Genomic DNA was extracted from blood samples and amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). PCR primers flanked the polymorphic region in intro 16 of the ACE gene.
Results: OSAS patients had significantly higher frequencies of I/I genotype and insertion allele of the ACE gene as compared with the control subjects in Chinese population. The OSAS patients with I/I genotype had significantly longer apnea time, lower minimum SaO2 and greater AHI than the OSAS patients with I/D genotype.
Conclusion: These results indicate that the I/I genotype and I allele are a risk factor for OSAS in Chinese.