ACE gene I/D polymorphism and arterial hypertension in patients with COPD

Background Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are common in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and their presence is associated with an increased risk for hospitalization, longer length of stay and all-cause and CVD-related mortality. We assessed the role of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene polymorphism in the occurrence of arterial hypertension (AH) in patients with COPD. Methods The study group consisted of 96 patients. Group 1 had 25 individuals with COPD, Group 2 had 23 individuals with AH and Group 3 had 28 individuals with COPD and AH. The control group consisted of 20 healthy subjects. I/D genotypes of ACE were determined by polymerase chain reaction amplification. Results The frequency distribution of polymorphic genotypes of the gene encoding ACE and assessment of compliance with the Hardy-Weinberg population equilibrium were carried out in groups of patients with COPD, AH and COPD + AH combination. The frequencies of the genotype responsible for I/D polymorphism of the ACE gene in the control and experimental groups were not found to deviate significantly from the Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium. The results of the study have not demonstrated any significant impact of alleles of ACE genes or ACE genes on occurrence of diseases such as COPD, AH and combinations thereof. However, analysis of odds ratio has demonstrated that the presence of the D allele of the ACE gene may increase the risk for occurrence of the COPD + AH (OR = 1.26). Conclusion The data obtained in the study allow suggesting that the presence of D allele of the ACE gene may increase the risk for AH in patients with COPD.