Why the study?
Does ACE gene polymorphism influence the development of athlete's heart in ultramarathon runners?
Does ACE gene polymorphism influence the development of athlete's heart in ultramarathon runners?
In long-distance runners, the ACE gene deletion polymorphism is associated with a greater degree of left ventricular hypertrophy and dilation compared to the insertion genotype.
Deletion polymorphism associated with greater LV remodeling in runners; leaves open genetic influences on athlete's heart and requires prospective validation.
BACKGROUND AND HYPOTHESIS: Genetic influence on development of athlete's heart is uncertain. This study investigated whether angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene polymorphism influenced development of athlete's heart. METHODS: Forty-three participants in a 100-km ultramarathon were classified on the basis of ACE gene polymorphism into a deletion group (n = 26) and an insertion group (n = 17). Echocardiograms were recorded to determine left ventricular end-diastolic and end-systolic diameters, interventricular septal thickness, left ventricular posterior wall thickness, left ventricular mass, and ejection fraction. RESULTS: Left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (65.5 +/- 4.0 mm) and left ventricular mass (369.5 +/- 73.9 g) were significantly larger in the subjects with deletion than in those with insertion (57.4 +/- 4.2 mm, 306.5 +/- 93.7 g). However, no significant differences in the other parameters were noted. CONCLUSIONS: In long-distance runners, ACE gene polymorphism of the D/D and D/I genotypes has a stronger influence on left ventricular hypertrophy than polymorphism of the I/I genotype.
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Nagashima et al. (2000) studied this question.
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