Polymorphisms of the angiotensin II type 1 receptor gene affect antihypertensive response to angiotensin receptor blockers in hypertensive Chinese.

The renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system plays a key role in regulating blood pressure by maintaining vascular tone and the water/sodium balance. Many antihypertensive drugs target the reninangiotensin-aldosterone system, but the effect differs considerably among hypertensive patients. We investigated whether genetic variants of the angiotensin II type 1 receptor are associated with blood pressure response to angiotensin II receptor blockers in hypertensive Chinese patients. After a 2-week single-blind placebo run-in period, 148 patients with mild-to-moderate primary hypertension received monotherapy with 80 mg/day telmisartan and then were followed up for 8 weeks. The 1166A/C, 573T/C, -810A/T, and -521C/T polymorphisms of the AT1R gene were determined through PCR and RFLP analysis. The relationship between these polymorphisms and changes in blood pressure was observed and evaluated after 8 weeks of treatment.