© 2005 The European Society of Cardiology. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Angiotensin converting enzyme insertion/deletion polymorphisms in vasovagal syncope
aCardiovascular Investigation Unit (Institute for Ageing and Health), Care of the Elderly Offices, Royal Victoria Infirmary, University of Newcastle Newcastle NE1 4LP, United Kingdom; bSchool of Clinical Medical Sciences, University of Newcastle United Kingdom; cMRC Building, Institute for Ageing and Health, Newcastle General Hospital Westgate Road, Newcastle NE4 6BE, United Kingdom; dInstitute for Human Genetics, International Centre for Life Central Parkway, Newcastle NE1 4BZ, United Kingdom
Recent studies suggest vasovagal syncope (VVS) has a significant heritable component (crude estimate sibling relative risk (
s): 1080) indicating that at least some forms of VVS may have a genetic cause. Here we present the first study examining a potential genetic abnormality in VVS.
METHODS: DNA was collected from consecutive patients attending our unit with head up tilt confirmed VVS (n = 165). One hundred and fourteen affected and unaffected first-degree relatives of those with a definitive diagnosis of VVS and positive family history also provided DNA.
RESULTS: DNA from 165 VVS index cases was genotyped for the ACE insertion/deletion polymorphism. Mean ± SD age of cases was 56 ± 19 years (103 (62%) females). There was no significant difference in distribution of ACE insertion or deletion gene frequencies in cases compared with a large (>6000 subjects) national control population. No preferential transmission of alleles in families was identified using tests of association (P = 0.1789)
CONCLUSION: We have shown using both a case control and a small family based association study that polymorphisms of ACE alone are not associated with increased risk of VVS. Further studies are planned to clarify the genotype/phenotype relationship in VVS and examine other candidate genes.
Key Words: vasovagal syncope, angiotensin converting enzyme, genetics
*Corresponding author. Tel.: +44 191 2824128; fax: +44 191 2225638. E-mail address: julianewton{at}blueyonder.co.uk (J.L. Newton).
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