Objective: The deletion (D) allele of the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene has been proposed as a genetic marker of the risk of coronary artery disease (CAD). In this study we aimed to determine the relevance of ACE gene polymorphism for coronary artery disease in the South-Eastern Anatolian population.
Methods: Angiotensin converting enzyme genotypes were determined in 133 CAD patients who underwent coronary angiography. Severity of CAD was subgrouped according to the number of stenotic vessels on coronary angiography. The control group was selected from 154 healthy volunteers. Angiotensin converting enzyme genotypes were determined by agarose gel sizing after polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification.
Results: Frequency of ACE DD genotype did not differ between patients with CAD and control subjects. However the ACE II genotype in CAD group was significantly less frequent than in control group (p=0.02). The relative risks were 0.9 (95% CI=0.56-1.43) for the DD genotypes, and 2.2 (95% CI=1.09 - 4.11) for the II genotype. In the 2-vessel CAD subgroups, the II genotypes were significantly different from control group.
Conclusion: Our study did not confirm the possibility that the ACE DD genotypes may be associated with predisposition to CAD in this certain population but there is a relationship between the least frequencies of the II genotype and CAD. The II genotype seems to be an independent protective factor for CAD in the South-Eastern Anatolian population.