Five polymorphisms in gene candidates for cardiovascular disease in Afro‐Brazilian individuals

摘要

Associations of polymorphisms in the angiotensin I‐converting enzyme ( ), apolipoprotein B ( ) and apolipoprotein E ( ) genes with hypertension and variations in lipid serum levels were evaluated in 184 Afro‐Brazilians with a familial history of coronary artery disease (CAD). ( ) and ( , , and ) and ( ) polymorphisms were determined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analyses on agarose, and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Serum lipids were measured by means of routine enzymatic assays. The results showed a high frequency of hypertension (44%) in Afro‐Brazilians that was increased in subjects >40 years old and those with a blood mass index (BMI) higher than 25 kg/m ( <0.001). The allele was associated with hypertension in men >40 years old ( <0.05). ( ) and ( and ) polymorphisms were not associated with hypertension or variations in serum concentrations of lipids, while subjects with the E− allele had higher low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL‐C) levels than E+ carriers ( <0.05). These results suggest that polymorphism is associated with hypertension, and polymorphism is associated with LDL‐C variation in Afro‐Brazilians. J. Clin. Lab. Anal. 18:309–316, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.