Angiotensin-converting enzyme I/D polymorphism and macrovascular disease in systemic sclerosis

Objective. Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is characterized by microvascular and macrovascular alterations. The D allele of the ACE I/D polymorphism is known to be associated with an increased incidence of atherosclerosis and has been recently proposed as associated with increased risk of SSc. This study e...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Rheumatology (Oxford, England) England), 2007-05, Vol.46 (5), p.772-775
Main Authors: Bartoli, F., Angotti, C., Fatini, C., Conforti, M. L., Guiducci, S., Blagojevic, J., Melchiorre, D., Fiori, G., Generini, S., Damjanov, N., Rednic, S., Pignone, A., Castellani, S., Abbate, R., Matucci Cerinic, M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Aged
Arteriosclerosis - etiology
Arteriosclerosis - genetics
Arteriosclerosis - pathology
Biological and medical sciences
Blood Pressure
Brachial Artery - physiopathology
Carotid Artery, Common - diagnostic imaging
Carotid Artery, Common - pathology
Female
Gene Frequency
Genetic Predisposition to Disease
Humans
Male
Medical sciences
Middle Aged
Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A - genetics
Polymorphism, Genetic
Sarcoidosis. Granulomatous diseases of unproved etiology. Connective tissue diseases. Elastic tissue diseases. Vasculitis
Scleroderma, Systemic - complications
Scleroderma, Systemic - genetics
Scleroderma, Systemic - pathology
Tunica Intima - diagnostic imaging
Tunica Intima - pathology
Tunica Media - diagnostic imaging
Tunica Media - pathology
Ultrasonography
Citations: Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Objective. Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is characterized by microvascular and macrovascular alterations. The D allele of the ACE I/D polymorphism is known to be associated with an increased incidence of atherosclerosis and has been recently proposed as associated with increased risk of SSc. This study evaluates the relationship between intima-media thickness (IMT), ankle-brachial pressure measurements (ABPI) and ACE I/D polymorphism in SSc patients. Methods. According to the presence of ACE D allele (analysed by PCR), 53 SSc patients (47 females and 6 males; median age was 60.4 ± 10.68 yrs; range 40-75 yrs) were divided in carriers of the D allele (DD + ID) (n = 46) and carriers of the I allele (II) (n = 7). In these patients, IMT and ABPI [calculated as the posterior tibial artery pressure (mmHg) divided by the brachial pressure] were obtained. Forty-three healthy controls (40 women and 13 men; median age 56.3 ± 10.23; range 40-70 yrs) of the same ethnicity were recruited. Results. SSc patients had IMT significantly higher than controls (0.85 ± 0.03 vs 0. 68 ± 0.01; P < 0.03). No significant differences (P > 0.3) in ABPI values between patients (1.018 ± 0.10) and controls (1.091 ± 0.11) were found. SSc patients with ACE DD and ID genotype showed an IMT significantly greater (0.89 ± 0.03) than those carrying the II genotype (0.61 ± 0.01) (P < 0.04). ABPI was not different among ACE gene genotypes. Conclusion. Our findings confirm an increased prevalence of macrovascular disease in SSc patients and show that IMT is greater in patients carrying the ACE DD and ID genotype in comparison with II homozygotes. This suggests that, in SSc, the presence of ACE D allele may predispose to an involvement of the macrovascular system.
ISSN:1462-0324
1462-0332
DOI:10.1093/rheumatology/kel433