Association of ACE gene polymorphism with serum ACE level and cerebral stroke in the elderly

Objective To investigate the relationship between angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) gene insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism and serum ACE level in elderly patients with cerebral stroke.Methods Polymorphism of ACE gene was categorized into three genotypes: genotype DD/ID/II.Polymerase chain reaction(PCR) was used to examine ACE gene polymorphism.Compared the distribution of three ACE genotypes frequencies and D allele frequency in 89 patients with cerebral strokes(39 hemorrhage cerebral strokes,50 ischemia cerebral strokes) in the elderly and 51 healthy with controls,whose serum ACE levels were measured with colorimetric technique.Results The frequency of D allele was higher in the stroke groups (0.58) than in healthy controls(0.36) (P0.05).A significant difference in serum ACE level was observed between the strokes and controls[(42.38±16.61) U/L and(31.28±8.64) U/L] respectively(P0.05).There were no significant difference in serum ACE level with the hemorrhagic cerebral strokes and ischemia cerebral strokes.Conclusion Serum ACE level is associated with ACE gene I/D polymorphism.D allele might be a genetic risk factor for stroke in the elderly.