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Ambulatory blood pressure, left ventricular mass and vascular phenotypes in relation to the endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene Glu298Asp and intron 4 polymorphisms in a population-based family study

Journal of Human Hypertension volume 19, pages 413–420 (2005)Cite this article

Abstract

Reduced nitric oxide production is associated with pathological changes in the cardiovascular system. In a study of randomly chosen families, we analysed the relationship between two polymorphisms (Glu298Asp and intron 4) of the endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and ambulatory blood pressure (ABP), left ventricular mass index (LVMI) and vascular phenotypes. The study population consisted of 127 parents and 167 offspring. All subjects underwent 24 h ABP monitoring using a SpaceLabs 90207 device. 2D and M-mode echocardiograms were obtained. Pulse wave velocity between the common carotid and femoral artery was measured with the Complior® device, and the carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) was assessed by ultrasound. For statistical analysis, covariables and correlations between relatives were taken into account. The frequency of genotypes was as follows: for Glu298Asp: 55.1%—Glu/Glu, 40.1%—Glu/Asp and 4.8%—Asp/Asp; for intron 4: 65.0%—4 b/b, 33.3%—4 b/a and 1.7%—4 a/a, being in Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium (P⩾0.29). There was no relationship between the eNOS gene polymorphisms and ABP or LVMI either in parents or their offspring. Among parents, carriers of the 298Asp allele had higher IMT values as compared with Glu/Glu homozygotes (0.94 vs 0.70 mm; P=0.007). Among offspring, there was a similar tendency (0.60 vs 0.53 mm; P=0.10), which was confirmed by transmission disequilibrium tests for quantitative variables (P⩾0.07). Our findings indicate that the Glu298Asp polymorphism of eNOS identifies patients with larger carotid IMT, also in younger subjects.

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Acknowledgements

Nuclear families were recruited for the European Project on Genes in Hypertension, supported by the European Union (contract no. IC15-CT98-0329-EPOGH). The present study was supported by a grant from the State Committee for Research (Warsaw, Poland), Grant No. 6PO5B 134 21.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. First Cardiac Department, Medical College, Jagiellonian University, Cracow, Poland

    D Czarnecka, K Kawecka-Jaszcz, K Stolarz, A Olszanecka & B Kieć-Wilk

  2. Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Medical College, Jagiellonian University, Cracow, Poland

    A Dembińska-Kieć & B Kieć-Wilk

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  1. D Czarnecka
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Correspondence to D Czarnecka.

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Czarnecka, D., Kawecka-Jaszcz, K., Stolarz, K. et al. Ambulatory blood pressure, left ventricular mass and vascular phenotypes in relation to the endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene Glu298Asp and intron 4 polymorphisms in a population-based family study. J Hum Hypertens 19, 413–420 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.jhh.1001837

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