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Aldosterone synthase alleles and cardiovascular phenotype in young adults

Journal of Human Hypertension volume 17, pages 859–864 (2003)Cite this article

Abstract

The C(−344)T promoter polymorphism of the human aldosterone synthase (CYP11B2) gene has been associated with hypertension and cardiac hypertrophy, but there were contrasting data. We analysed the genotype/phenotype associations between this polymorphism and cardiovascular variables in a young adult population, where interactions among genes, gene–environment, and acquired ageing-related organ damage are reduced. Anthropometric measurements, blood pressure, heart rate, left ventricular variables (by echocardiography), and carotid artery wall intimal–media thickness (by high-resolution sonography and digitalized morphometry) were taken in 420 white Caucasian students (mean age 23.5 years, s.d. 2.5 years). CYP11B2 alleles were detected by genomic polymerase chain reaction followed by digestion. Taking into account the three possible models of inheritance, we found no differences in the considered variables, except for an independent effect of the C(−344) allele on SBP in males (TT 125.6 (1.6), TC 128.4 (1.2) and CC 130.5 (2.2), mmHg, media (ES), P=0.03), and on interventricular septum thickness in diastole in females (CC 6.98 (0.12) vs TT 6.87 (0.09) and TC 6.87 (0.07), mmHg, P<0.01), in the codominant model. In conclusion, the CYP11B2 C(−344)T polymorphism appears to have a slight role in the cardiovascular phenotype of young healthy adults, even if these genotype/phenotype relationships might change with ageing.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Ancona, Ancona, Italy

    R Sarzani, F Salvi, P Dessì-Fulgheri, R Catalini, D Mazzara, G Cola, N Siragusa, D Spagnolo, P Ercolani & A Rappelli

  2. Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Medical Information Technology, University of Ancona, Ancona, Italy

    R Gesuita & F Carle

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  1. R Sarzani
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  2. F Salvi
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  3. P Dessì-Fulgheri
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Correspondence to R Sarzani.

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Sarzani, R., Salvi, F., Dessì-Fulgheri, P. et al. Aldosterone synthase alleles and cardiovascular phenotype in young adults. J Hum Hypertens 17, 859–864 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.jhh.1001619

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.jhh.1001619

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