Association of angiotensin-converting enzyme gene insertion/deletion polymorphism with the clinico-pathological manifestations in immunoglobulin A nephropathy patients.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the relationship between angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene insertion/deletion polymorphism and the clinico-pathological manifestations in patients with immunoglobulin nephropathy (IgAN).

METHODS

A flanking primer pair and an insertion-specific primer pair were used to perform two polymerase chain reactions so as to analyse the insertion/deletion polymorphism of ACE gene.

RESULTS

There was a significantly higher genotype frequency for DD genotype in IgAN patients. The frequencies for DD genotype were also higher in those patients with hypertension and/or heavy proteinuria and/or severe glomerular sclerosis (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

We observed a significant association of the deletion polymorphism of ACE gene with renal insufficiency, hypertension and severe glomerular lesions at biopsy. The deletion allele may play a role, at least to some extent, in the deterioration and progression in IgA nephropathy.