Angiotensin-converting enzyme insertion/deletion polymorphism, 24-h blood pressure profile and left ventricular hypertrophy in hypertensive individuals: a cross-sectional study

The absence of nocturnal blood pressure dipping (ND) identified by 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) correlates with a worse cardiovascular prognosis. The renin-angiotensin system influences blood pressure levels and the occurrence of target organ damage (TOD). Thus, the aim of this study was to correlate the angiotensin-converting enzyme gene (ACE) insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism with the 24-h blood pressure profile and TOD in hypertensive individuals. 155 non-diabetic hypertensive individuals on antihypertensive treatment underwent ABPM. Peripheral blood samples were drawn for biochemistry and genetic analysis of the ACE I/D polymorphism by polymerase chain reaction. ND was defined as ≥10 % differences in the mean systolic blood pressure (BP) during wakefulness and sleep. There were no differences in clinical or biochemical variables or TOD in respect to ND status, except for higher BP levels during sleep (p