Objective: To investigate the relationship between the angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) gene polymorphism and the effects of the ACE inhibitor enalapril on left ventricular hypertrophy and impaired diastolic filling.
Design and methods: Enalapril (5-10 mg/day) was administered for 12 months to 60 previously untreated patients with essential hypertension. M-mode and pulsed Doppler echocardiography were performed before and after treatment, and changes in various parameters after treatment with enalapril were examined. ACE gene polymorphism was examined by the polymerase chain reaction method and the patients were classified as having the 190 bp deletion homozygous (DD) genotype, the 490 bp insertion homozygous (II) genotype or the 490 bp insertion 190 bp deletion heterozygous (ID) genotype.
Results: The DD genotype was observed in 10 patients (17%), the ID genotype in 24 patients (40%) and the II genotype in 26 patients (43%). Plasma ACE activity before treatment with enalapril was significantly higher in seven patients with DD genotype than it was in 18 patients with ID genotype and in 14 patients with II genotype. In all of the 60 patients, the left ventricular mass index, the peak atrial systolic velocity:early diastolic velocity ratio and the deceleration time from the peak of the early diastolic wave to the baseline in transmitral flow velocity were decreased significantly after treatment with enalapril. The changes in left ventricular mass index and atrial systolic velocity:early diastolic velocity ratio after enalapril administration were significantly greater in the DD genotype group than they were in the other two genotype groups.
Conclusion: Enalapril-induced regression of left ventricular hypertrophy and improvement in left ventricular impaired diastolic filling were significantly greater in the DD genotype group than they were in the ID and II genotype groups, suggesting that the circulating and tissue renin-angiotensin systems, particularly the former system, are most active in hypertensive patients with the DD genotype.