J Korean Pediatr Soc.  2002 Jul;45(7):884-890.

The Effect of Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Gene Polymorphism in Children with Henoch-Schonlein Purpura Nephritis

• Ha CW
• Kim JY
• Lee JN
• Lee JH
• Chung WY

Abstract

PURPOSE: Henoch-Schonlein purpura(HSP) nephritis has been reported to vary from 25 to 50% among HSP patients and is a common cause of chronic glomerulonephritis in children. In our study, we evaluated the distribution and the association of the Insertion/Deletion(I/D) polymorphism of angiotensin converting enzyme(ACE) gene with clinical manifestations, particularly proteinuria in children with HSP nephritis, compared with that in HSP.
METHODS
ACE gene polymorphism was determined in children with HSP nephritis(n=33) and HSP(n=28) who were diagnosed in Busan Paik hospital from January 1996 to June 2001. The I/D polymorphism of ACE gene was determined by PCR amplication of genomic DNA.
RESULTS
The ACE I/D genotype frequency was DD : 25%, ID : 50%, II : 25% in HSP and DD : 24 %, ID : 46%, II : 30% in HSP nephritis, there was no significant difference in the genotype and allele frequencies between two groups. When statistical analysis was done according to the presence of D allele, the amount of 24-hour urinary protein excretion and the incidence of moderate to heavy proteinuria(>500 mg/m2/day) at onset and last follow-up were higher in DD/ID genotype than in those in II genotype, but these differences were not statistically significant.
CONCLUSION
We suggest a lack of association between I/D polymorphism of ACE gene and clinical manifestations in children with HSP nephritis. However, further follow-up studies based on a sufficient number of patients and long term follow up periods are necessary to confirm the role of I/D polymorphism of ACE gene in children with HSP nephritis.

Keyword

Insertion/deletion polymorphism; Angiotensin converting enzyme gene; Henoch- Schonlein purpura nephritis; Children

MeSH Terms

Alleles
Angiotensins*
Busan
Child*
DNA
Follow-Up Studies
Gene Frequency
Genotype
Glomerulonephritis
Humans
Incidence
Nephritis*
Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A*
Polymerase Chain Reaction
Proteinuria
Purpura, Schoenlein-Henoch*
Angiotensins
DNA
Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A