Análise Combinada de Fatores Genéticos e Ambientais na Hipertensão Essencial em um Município da Região Amazônica Combined Analysis of Genetic and Environmental Factors on Essential Hypertension in a Brazilian Rural Population in the Amazon Region

Summary Objective: In the present study, we evaluated the contribution of six genetic polymorphisms of the Renin-Angiotensis-Aldosterone system (R AAS) and clinical risk factors in the development of essential hypertension in a Brazilian rural population in the Amazon region. Methods: Eighty-two hypertensive patients and seventy-eight normotensive individuals were evaluated. Genotyping for renin (REN G1051A), angiotensinogen (AGT) M235T, insertion/deletion of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE I/D), angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AGTR1) A1166C and aldosterone synthase (CYP11B2) C344T polymorphisms were performed using polymerase chain reaction, with further restriction analysis when required. The influence of genetic polymorphisms and clinical risk factors on blood pressure variation was assessed by stepwise linear regression. Results: We report the co-occurrence of clinical risk factors and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene polymorphism in a Brazilian rural population in the Amazon region. Our results indicate that increase of systolic blood pressure (SBP) is favored by ACE I/D- D a llele and advanced age, while alcohol consumption and aging are associated with high diastolic blood pressure (DBP).