Association of ACEI//D Gene Polymorphism with Diabetic Nephropathy.

Abstract

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is considered as a major microvascular complication of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and is the leading cause of end-stage renal disease. Genetic susceptibility is a significant risk factor for DN development including the polymorphisms in ACE gene. The aim of this study is to investigate the association of ACE gene I/D polymorphism with DN in T2DM patients. In this prospective, observational, genetic association, case-control study, a demographic, clinical and laboratory data are analyzed from preliminary selected group of 35 patients with T2DM, of which 17 are with DN and 18 without DN. The duration of T2DM is similar to both subgroups. As controls, blood samples from 30 healthy blood donors and volunteers are being collected. Genetic analyses revealed statistically significant (p=0.029) association of genotypes D/D and I/D with occurrence of nephropathy, regarding the homozygous I/I genotype. Carriers of D/D and I/D genotypes has 7.134 folds higher odds and 2.148 folds higher relative risk for developing nephropathy than the carriers of I/I genotype among the patients with T2DM. Although the data and samples from only 35 patients are calculated, preliminary analyses indicates that there is a potential applicable predictive value of determination of this polymorphism during the clinical follow-up, treatment selection and prognosis of diabetic nephropathy.