Introduction: Hypertension results from the interaction of genetic and environmental factors. Since the renin-angiotensin and the natriuretic peptide systems contribute to blood pressure regulation, variations in the relative genes are candidates for the development of hypertension.
Materials and methods: In 194 hypertensives and 304 controls of Hellenic origin, the possible association between the (CA)n repeat polymorphism of angiotensinogen (AGT), the 250 bp insertion/deletion (I/D) of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), the tetranucleotide repeat polymorphism (TCTG)n of renin, and the (CT)n repeat polymorphism of the natriuretic peptide receptor A (NPRA) and hypertension was assessed.
Results: No association between AGT and NPRA polymorphisms and hypertension was observed. The presence of ID or DD genotype of ACE was associated with an increased risk for hypertension compared with the II genotype (OR: 1.782 [95% CI: 1.032-3.077]), whereas the LL genotype of the renin gene was associated with a decreased risk compared with the SS genotype (OR: 0.174 [95% CI: 0.044-0.689]). However, after adjustment for confounding factors only the latter association remained.
Conclusions: In the present study conducted in a homogeneous Hellenic population, no associations between AGT,ACE, and NPRA gene polymorphisms and hypertension were found. The presence of a significant negative association between the LL polymorphism of the renin gene and hypertension requires further confirmation.