Original Article

Journal of Perinatology (2005) 25, 205–209. doi:10.1038/sj.jp.7211231 Published online 18 November 2004

Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Insertion/Deletion Polymorphism Does Not Alter Sepsis Outcome in Ventilated Very Low Birth Weight infants

Presented in part at the Society for Pediatric Research Annual meeting May 2004 San Francisco, CA.

R John Baier MD1, John Loggins RRT2 and Krishna Yanamandra PhD2

  1. 1Department of Pediatrics and Child Health (R.J.B.), University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
  2. 2Department of Pediatrics (J.L., K.Y.), Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, LA, USA

Correspondence: R. John Baier, MD, Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, University of Manitoba, WR 116, 735 Notre Dame Avenue, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R3E 0L8

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Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

 

This study compared the effect of the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphisms on the incidence and outcome of sepsis in ventilated very low birth weight infants.

STUDY DESIGN:

 

Infectious complications were retrospectively determined in 295 (234 African-American, 58 Caucasian and three Hispanic) mechanically ventilated very low birth weight (VLBW) infants (<1500 g at birth) and compared ACE I/D genotype.

RESULTS:

 

The incidence of the D allele in the study population was 0.60. A total of 113 (38.3%) infants were homozygous DD, 128 (43.4%) were heterozygous ID and 54 (18.3%) were homozygous II. One or more episodes of late BSI developed in 28 (52%) of 54 infants with the II genotype, 66 (52%) of 128 infants with the ID genotype and 52 (46%) of 113 infants with the DD genotype (p=0.618). Neither the rates of non-CONS BSI (II: 24%, ID: 23%, DD: 22%; p=0.937) nor multiple bacteremic/fungemic episodes (II: 13%, ID: 16%, DD: 12%; p=0.641) were different between genotype groups. The ACE I/D polymorphism had no effect on sepsis-related mortality (II: 7%, ID: 5%, DD: 4%; p=0.692). Sepsis mortality for infants with late BSI was 14% in infants with the II genotype, 9% with the ID genotype and 10% with the DD genotype (p=0.764).

CONCLUSIONS:

 

The ACE I/D polymorphism does not have a significant effect on the incidence or outcome of sepsis in ventilated VLBW infants.

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