Korean J Med.  2000 Jun;58(6):639-650.

Relationship between carotid artery intima-media thickness and apolipoprotein E and angiotensin converting enzyme gene polymorphism in patients with diabetes mellitus

• Kim W
• Yeom JP
• Kim DS
• Park TS
• Baek HS
• Kang SK
• Park SK

Abstract

BACKGROUND
To study the distribution of the polymorphism of apo E and angiotensin converting enzyme genotypes in type 2 diabetic patients and to evaluate possible association between the apo E genotypes and angiotensin converting enzyme genotypes and intima-media thickness of the common carotid artery.
METHODS
Study participants were 206 type 2 diabetic patients (112 men and 94 women), aged 18-81 years. HbA1C, albuminuria, and lipid status were assessed by standard laboratory techniques ; the apo E genotypes were assessed by modified amplification refractory mutation system of polymerase chain reaction technique and the angiotensin converting enzyme genotypes were assessed by multiplex polymerase chain reaction technique. The intima-media thickness was measured by high-resolution ultrasonography.
RESULTS
The apo E allele frequencies of patients were E2 11%, E3 72%, and E4 17%. Mean HDL-cholesterol was lower in E4 carrier (n=35) than E2 (n=148) and E3 (n=35) carrier. E2 carriers has less common carotid intima-media thickness than E3 and E4 carriers (p< 0.05). The angiotensin converting enzyme genotypes were distributed as follows ; II 38%, ID 47%, DD 15%. The intima-media thickness value did not differ among patients with various genotypes. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that only apo E polymorphism was determinant for the intima-media thickness.
CONCLUSION
Our results suggested that apo E polymorphism was associated with carotid artery intima-media thickness in type 2 diabetic patients. But we could not find an association between carotid artery intima-media thickness and angiotensin converting enzyme genotype in this patients population.

Keyword

Diabetes mellitus; Apolipoproteins E; polymorphism; Peptidyl-dipeptidase A; Carotid arteries

MeSH Terms

Albuminuria
Angiotensins*
Apolipoproteins E
Apolipoproteins*
Carotid Arteries*
Carotid Artery, Common
Carotid Intima-Media Thickness
Diabetes Mellitus*
Gene Frequency
Genotype
Humans
Logistic Models
Male
Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction
Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A*
Polymerase Chain Reaction
Ultrasonography
Angiotensins
Apolipoproteins
Apolipoproteins E
Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A