Angiotensin converting enzyme gene polymorphisms and renal disease.

In the past year there has been a profusion of reports identifying a possible association between the insertion/deletion polymorphism of the angiotensin converting enzyme and renal diseases. Rather than clarifying the situation, it has become more difficult to interpret its significance owing to small sample sizes and concerns over methodology; hence, studies are frequently contradictory. Despite these concerns there is evidence for a role of this polymorphism in progressive renal disease. This review summarizes the major studies in this field and suggests future strategies that might be employed to identify useful genetic markers in nephrology, for which the angiotensin converting enzyme polymorphism has acted as an important paradigm.