Association between Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Gene Insertion/Deletion Polymorphism and Cardiovascular Diseases among Diabetic Patients

Abstract

Cardiovascular diseases(CVDs) are the most prevalent cause of mortality and morbidity among people with diabetes mellitus. On the other hand, diabetes mellitus deserves to be designated a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. The insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism of the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene is considered to contribute to an interpersonal variability in serum ACE levels and thereby providing a plausible basis for increased susceptibility to thrombotic events. This study aimed to investigate the association between ACE gene I/D polymorphism and risk of cardiovascular diseases in diabetic patients. A total of 100 subjects were recruited for this case control study, 50 diabetic patients with CVDs and 50 healthy volunteers as a control group. Blood samples were collected from all participants in EDTA anticoagulant container, genomic DNA was extracted by salting out method, and the ACE I/D polymorphism was analysed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Amplified fragments separated on 2% agarose gel stained with ethidium promide and demonstrated by gel documentation system. Patients’ data was collected by structured interview questionnaire and analysed by statistical package for social sciences (SPSS), version 19. The DD genotype of ACE I/D polymorphism was more frequent in both diabetic patients with CVDs and control group(72%,74%( respectively than ID genotype(28%,26%) respectively, while the II genotype was absent in both groups. ACE I/D polymorphism was found to have has no effect on age of incidence of CVDs in diabetic patients(Pvalue 0.886). There was no interaction observed between ACE genotypes and other known CVDs risk factors in diabetic patients The results showed no statistically significant difference in mean duration of DM when compared in the two ACE genotypes, Mean± SD (12.28±8.410, 12.21±8.894 for DD,ID) respectively, (pvalue 0. 981). There was no statistically significant association between ACE I/D polymorphism and risk of cardiovascular diseases in Sudanese diabetic patients.