Relationship between angiotensin II type 1 receptor gene polymorphism and blood pressure levels in essential hypertensive elders

Objective To investigate the relationship of angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1 R) gene A/C 1166 polymorphism and blood pressure levels in essential hypertensive elders. Methods The A/C 1166 polymorphism of AT1 R gene was assessed by polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR RFLP) in a case control study of 87 EH elders and 55 normotensive elders.In EH elders blood pressure was measured by 24 hours noninvasive ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. Results (1) The frequency of C 1166 allele in EH elders was higher than that in normotensive elders (0.115 vs 0.036, P 0.05). (2) The mean levels of 24 hours and nighttime SBP and MA, daytime SBP,and nighttime DBP were higher in the group with C allele (AC + CC) than that in AA group ( P 0.05). Conclusion The results indicate that A/C 1166 polymorphism of AT1 R gene is associated with EH elders. The frequency of C 1166 allele is higher in EH elders than that in normotensive elders. The C 1166 allele may contribute to the higher level of blood pressure in EH elders.