Abstract

This study has been addressed to investigate the relationship among genetic variants of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), blood pressure, left ventricular structure and function in young subjects with central obesity. Casual and ambulatory blood pressure (ABP)left ventricular structure and function were evaluated in 87 young subjects with central obesity subgrouped according to their ACE genotype (DD group; DI group;II group). ACE genotypes were identified on the basis of polymerase chain reaction, amplification of the respective fragments from intron 16 of the ACE gene and size fractionation and visualitation by electrophoresis gel. ABP was recorded by the portable full automatic Takeda system. Left Ventricular Mass (LVM) and indexed for body height (LVM/h), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), end diastolic diameter (EDD), end systolic diameter (ESD) and interventricular septal thickness (IST) by echocardiography were calculated.

Casual and ABP, LVM/h, EDD,were significantly (p<0.05) higher and LVEF values were significantly (p<0.05) lower in central obese subjects with DD genotype than those detectable in DI and II subjects. Moreover, an higher prevalence (p<0.01)in family history for cardiovascular disease was found in both DD and DI than in II central obese subjects. Waist-Hip ratio (WHR) was directly correlated with LVM/h (r= 0.57; p < 0.001) and inversely with LVEF ( r = -0.45; p<0.01) only in the DD subjects. Multiple regression analysis indicated that WHR was an independent predictor of LVM/h and LVEF only in central obese subjects with DD genotype.

Our results indicated that homozygosity for the D allele was associated to an higher risk for hypertension and to an early involvement of left ventricular function and structure in central obese subjects. This suggests that these subjects might considered as candidates to future cardiovascular diseases.

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