Angiotensin-converting enzyme gene polymorphism is correlated to diabetic retinopathy: a meta-analysis.

The angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) displays potent vasoconstrictive effects, attenuation of fibrinolysis, and platelet activation and aggregation. The ACE gene has been the main probable candidate gene predisposing the development of diabetic retinopathy (DR). However, the correlation between ACE gene polymorphism and progression of DR still requires further approval. Here, the author performs a summative analysis on recent previous reports on ACE gene polymorphism and its correlation to DR. The meta-analysis was performed in order to assess the correlation between the pattern of ACE gene polymorphism and DR. From four studies available, the author evaluated type II diabetic patients with (Group 1; n=432) and without DR (Group 2; n=329). The frequency of the DD genotype in Group 1 is not significantly different from that in Group 2 (P>.05). In addition, the author first reports a nonsignificant correlation between ethnicity and ACE gene polymorphism.