OBJECTIVE

To explore the relationship between angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) gene polymorphism and risk factors of cerebral infarct (CI) in Chinese Han nationality.

METHODS

One hundred and sixty-five cases with cerebral infarct, 101 cases of essential hypertension patients with 106 normal persons in Chinese Han serving as controls were detected using polymorase chain reaction (PCR) and genetic methods. ACE contents in serum were measured by colorimetric method. Risk factors of cerebral infarct were assessed by standard questionnaire, physical examination and blood tests.

RESULTS

ACE DD genotype appeared more common in patients of cerebral infarct when comparing with essential hypertension groups (0.43 versus 0.31, chi 2 = 4.03, P < 0.05) and normal controls (0.43 versus 0.17, chi 2 = 19.86, P < 0.01). D:I allele frequency appeared to be 0.66:0.34 in cerebral infarct patients and 0.41:0.59 in controls (chi 2 = 32.85, P < 0.01). In basal ganglia infarct and thalamus infarct groups, ACE DD genotype and allele ratio distribution were remarkably different to that in normal subjects (chi 2 = 18.30, 12.41, P < 0.01). The mean levels of serum in cerebral and hypertension were higher than in normal controls (F = 2,240.06, P < 0.01), and serum ACE activity in ACE DD genotype was significantly higher than that in ACE DI and II genotype in cerebral group (F = 8.83, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

The ACE gene deletion polymorphism might serve as an independent risk factor for cerebral infarct in Chinese Han nationality while circulation ACE activity might be related to gene deletion polymorphism.