Carotid atherscleross and angiotensin II type 1 receptor gene polymorphism in primary hypertension

Objective To study the relationship between angiotensin Ⅱ type 1 receptor (AT_~1 R) gene polymorphism and carotid atherosclerosis and pathogenesis in primary hypertension . Methods Polymerase chain reaction combined with restriction enzyme digestion and ultrasonography were used to measure AT_~1 R gene polymorphism and carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) separately in 150 patients with primary hypertension compared with 100 controls . Results The frequencies of AC genotype and C allele of AT_~1 R gene in patients were higher than those of control ~(P0.05). Carotid artery atherosclerosis was more common in patients with primary hypertension than that of control . Conclusions AT_~1 R gene are associated with primary hypertension .The hypertension is an important factor to promote the carotid artery atherosclerosis.