1. ¹Hypertension Clinic, Hospital Clinico, University of Valencia, Spain
2. ²Hypertensión Unit, Hospital Clínico Universitario San Carlos, Madrid, Spain

Correspondence: Professor J Redon, Hypertensión Unit, Hospital CIínico Universitario, Avda. Blasco Ibáñez, 14, Valencia 46010, Spain. Tel: +34 96 386 2647; Fax: +34 96 386 2647; E-mail: josep.redon@uv.es

³For list of researchers of the POLPRI study see Appendix A1.

Received 18 March 2004; Revised 8 June 2004; Accepted 28 June 2004; Published online 26 October 2004.

Abstract

This study analyzed the relationship between four renin–angiotensin system (RAS) gene polymorphisms and the response to blood pressure lowering and development of microalbuminuria in 206 patients with essential hypertension treated once daily for 12 months with telmisartan 80 mg. Seated cuff blood pressure and urinary albumin excretion (UAE) were measured throughout the study. Patients were screened for the presence of the A-6G variant of the angiotensinogen gene, angiotensin-converting enzyme insertion/deletion polymorphism, and the A1166C and C573T polymorphisms of the angiotensin II type 1 receptor gene. No significant association was found between the presence of any gene polymorphism and the reduction of blood or UAE following telmisartan treatment. The results indicate that these RAS gene polymorphisms do not affect the antihypertensive activity and renoprotection in mild-to-moderate hypertensive patients treated with telmisartan.