CYP11B2 −344T/C Gene Polymorphism and Blood Pressure in Patients with Acromegaly

Abstract

Abstract Context: The pathogenesis of increased blood pressure (BP) in acromegaly is unclear, and the role of IGF-I levels and the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) in this disease remains controversial. Objective and Design: The aim of this study was to investigate the role of gene polymorphisms of the RAAS and involved in sodium handling on BP in acromegaly. Setting and Patients: We conducted a multicentric retrospective study that included 100 consecutive patients with acromegaly referred during the period 2000–2003. Intervention: All patients were genotyped for ACE I/D, AGT M235T, CYP11B2 −344T/C, B2R −58T/C, and α-adducin G460W polymorphisms. Main Outcome Measure: We assessed the prevalence of hypertension and BP according to the genotype. Results: Patients with the CYP11B2 −344CC genotype displayed a significant increase in the risk of hypertension compared with patients with CT/TT genotypes (odds ratio = 4.0; 95% confidence interval = 1.4–11.6; P = 0.01). Consistently, a significant proportion of patients with the CYP11B2 −344CC genotypes were under antihypertensive treatment (73.1%) compared with patients with the TT/TC genotypes (38.2%; P = 0.003). Patients with the −344CC genotype displayed a significant increase in systolic BP (10.2 ± 4.3 mm Hg; P = 0.02) but not a significant increase in diastolic BP (2.6 ± 2.6 mm Hg; P = 0.32) compared with patients with the CT/TT genotype. Conclusions: We have shown an association of the −344T/C CYP11B2 gene polymorphism with BP in patients affected by acromegaly. These findings suggest that the RAAS is implicated in the pathogenesis of hypertension in acromegaly.