Objective: To investigate the relationship between angiotensin type I receptor (AGT I R) gene polymorphism and diabetic nephropathy (DN) and its progression.
Methods: PCR technique was used to determine the AGT I R gene polymorphism in 86 patients without DN, 67 with microalbuminuria, 66 with clinical albuminuria and 20 type 2 DM patients with renal insufficiency.
Results: In comparing the DN group with the non-DN group, it was found that there was a significant difference of the frequency of AC genotype with DN (chi(2) = 4.30, P < 0.05), and C mutative type was more frequent in the DN group (chi(2) = 3.97, P < 0.05). No significant difference of AGTIR-A1166-C genotype was found in cases with different durations of DN.
Conclusion: Delete polymorphism of A1166-C gene is associated with DN in type 2 diabetes mellitus. It is suggested that detection of significant AGTIR-A1166-C polymorphism is of help for preventing DN in type 2 diabetes mellitus.