Background: Much past research has concerned the relationship between coronary heart disease and the angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) genotype, with many lines of evidence demonstrating polymorphism to be an independent risk factor for myocardial infarction. Interestingly, however, association of ACE polymorphism and severity of coronary artery stenosis according to racial background has recently been proposed.
Objective: To clarify the relationship between the ACE genotype and severity of coronary artery stenosis in Japanese patients.
Methods: In 36 consecutive patients undergoing coronary catheterization, comparative examination of coronary angiography findings with the ACE genotype was conducted.
Results: The severity of coronary artery stenosis indeed showed a relationship with the ACE genotype, with more severe coronary artery stenosis associated with the deletion (D) allele (P < 0.05). The serum lipids, total cholesterol and triglycerides levels, were also elevated in patients with the D allele (P < 0.05).
Conclusion: We have provided further evidence that ACE polymorphism is associated with severity of coronary heart disease in a Japanese population. A possible relationship between serum lipids and the ACE genotype is also suggested.