The Influence of Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Gene Insertion-DeletionPolymorphism on Progression of Renal and Cardiovascular Diseases

Overview

Many controversial studies concerning relation between angiotensin converting enzyme polymorphism and renaland cardiovascular disease have been published during the last years. Most of the papers have suggested that the DDgenotype plays an important negative role in the progression of some renal diseases (e.g. IgA nephropathy, diabeticnepropathy). The D allele may be an independent risk factor for development of the target organ damage in essentialhypertension. The therapeutic response on inhibitors of angiotensin converting enzyme depends on insertion-deletionpolymorphism. It probably also depends on the gender. The pathological mechanisms of insertion-deletion polymor-phism have not yet been clearly identified.

Key words:
angiotensin-converting enzyme, insertion-deletion polymorphism, kidney, hypertension.