Background: It has been suggested that a genetic polymorphism in the angiotensin II type 1 receptor gene (ATRG) and the ACE gene DD genotype might have a synergistic influence on the risk of developing cardiovascular disease.
Aims: To study the possible interaction between polymorphisms in the ACE gene and the ATRG, regarding survival and left ventricular function.
Methods: Polymorphism of the two genes was studied in a population-based cohort of 194 patients with idiopathic heart failure, recruited from the western part of Sweden 1985-1988. The patients were investigated by echocardiography. The survival status was checked during the 7-year follow-up period.
Results: Although there was no statistically significant additive risk of the ATRG polymorphism, patients carrying the ACE gene DD genotype in combination with a C allele of the ATRG tended to have a poorer prognosis. DD +AA, OR 1.24 (95% CI 0.67-2.32, P = 0.49); DD +AC, OR 1.64 (95% CI 0.95-2.83, P = 0.08); DD + CC, OR 3.54 95% CI 0.78-16.1, P = 0.10); DD +AC/CC, OR 1.84 (95% CI 1.10-3.08, P = 0.02). Patients with the DD +AC/CC genotypes tended to have lower ejection fraction and increased left ventricular mass.
Conclusions: There was a trend toward a worse prognosis in patients with the combination of a C-allele in the ATRG and the ACE gene DD genotype, suggesting an interaction of these two genetic polymorphisms on disease severity.