Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) DD genotype: relationship with venous thrombosis

Venous thromboembolism is a common multifactorial disease associated with acquired and inherited predisposing factors. Several polymorphisms, e.g. factor V Leiden, factor II G20210A and deficiency of antithrombin, protein C and protein S, have been associated with venous thromboembolism. Angiotensin converting-enzyme affects hemostasis by decreasing fibrinolysis. Angiotensin converting-enzyme gene polymorphism, a 287 pb insertion/deletion at introns 16, is related to variations in enzyme serum levels. The DD genotype has been associated with increased risk for venous thrombosis. This study examined the frequency of the angiotensin converting-enzyme alleles I and D and their association with venous thrombosis in a group of individuals from the south of Brazil. Seventy-one patients with deep venous thrombosis and/or pulmonary thromboembolism and 71 healthy individuals were analysed in a case-control study. The angiotensin converting-enzyme ID genotyping was performed by polymerase chain reaction. The frequencies of the D allele and DD genotype were, respectively, 51.4% and 22.5% for patients, and 64.7% and 45.0% for controls. The Odds Ratio for the dominant hypothesis (DD+ID versus II genotypes) was 0. 75 (CI 95%; 0.29-1.93) and the Odds Ratio for recessive hypothesis (DD versus ID+II) was 0.35 (CI 95%; 0.16-0.78). In conclusion, our results indicate a protective effect of the angiotensin converting-enzyme DD genotype on venous thromboembolism.