Renin-Angiotensin System Genes Polymorphisms and Long-Term Prognosis in Taiwanese Patients with Hypertension and Coronary Artery Disease

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the renin-angiotensin system genetic effects and pharmacogenetic interactions for angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors in hypertensive coronary artery disease (CAD) patients. Methods: Subjects with hypertension and angiographic CAD were recruited from 1995 to 2003. Baseline characteristics and genetic polymorphisms [ACE gene insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism, six polymorphisms of the angiotensinogen (AGT) gene, and A1166C polymorphisms of the angiotensin 11 type 1 receptor gene (AGT1 R)] were collected. Patients were assigned to 2 groups (ACE inhibitor or No-ACE inhibitor) and followed-for up to 12 years. Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox regression models were used to demonstrate the survival and major cardiovascular events (MACE) event-free survival trends. Pharmacogenetic effects were determined by several Cox regression models. Results: Of the 518 patients in our study, 290 were treated with ACE inhibitors and 228 were not. Prescription of ACE inhibitors was associated with a lower rate of MACE at 4000 days. In addition, ACE I/D gene D was associated with a higher rate of MACE in a multivariate regression analysis [hazard ration (HR): 1.64, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.27-1.98, P ＜ 0.001]. This effect could be attenuated by the pharmacogenetic interaction of ACE inhibitors and the ACE gene (ACE inhibitors*ACE D gene, HR: 0.68, 95% CI: 0.52-0.84, p = 0.014) Conclusions: The use of ACE inhibitors was associated with a significant decrease in MACE in hypertensive patients diagnosed with CAD. Genetic variants were also associated with event-free survival, but their effects were modified by the use of ACE inhibitors.