The angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) locus is strongly associated with age and duration of diabetes in patients with Type I diabetes

• Published in: Journal of diabetes and its complications 1997, Vol.11 (1), p.2-8
• Main Authors: Hibberd, M.L., Millward, B.A., Demaine, A.G.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Age Factors; Associated diseases and complications; Biological and medical sciences; Cohort Studies; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 - complications; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 - enzymology; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 - genetics; Diabetes. Impaired glucose tolerance; Diabetic Nephropathies - enzymology; Diabetic Nephropathies - genetics; Diabetic Neuropathies - enzymology; Diabetic Neuropathies - genetics; Diabetic Retinopathy - enzymology; Diabetic Retinopathy - genetics; Endocrine pancreas. Apud cells (diseases); Endocrinopathies; Female; Gene Frequency; Genotype; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A - classification; Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A - genetics; Proteinuria - enzymology; Proteinuria - genetics; Sex Characteristics; Time Factors
• ISSN: 1056-8727; 1873-460X
• DOI: 10.1016/1056-8727(95)00114-X

We have investigated the frequency of the angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism in 249 patients with type I diabetes and 162 normal healthy controls. There was no significant difference in the frequency of ACE genotypes between those patients with diabetic nephropathy ( n = 72) (nephropaths) compared to those with no proteinuria after 20 years duration of diabetes ( n = 86) (normoalbuminurics). There was, however, a significant difference in the frequency of ACE genotypes between the short-duration and long-term normoalbuminuric group ( χ = 11.5, p = 0.001). Analysis of the ACE genotypes with respect to age and duration of diabetes showed that homozygosity for the insertion (I/I) genotype was significantly decreased with longer duration of diabetes ( r 2 = 92.7%, p < 0.009). No association was found with age in the normal controls. In conclusion, these results suggest that the ACE locus may be associated with longevity and survival in patients with type I diabetes rather than diabetic nephropathy or microvascular disease per se.