An association between resistant hypertension and the null GSTM1 genotype.

Reduction in expression levels of glutathione S-transferase (GST) mu type 1 (GSTM1) in stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats has recently been reported. GSTM1 genotype was evaluated in 49 patients with resistant hypertension and compared with selected patients with controlled hypertension (n=232) and healthy participants (n=110). Null GSTM1 genotype occurred more frequent in patients with resistant hypertension than those with controlled hypertension (57.1 vs 39.7%; P=0.03; RR 1.96; 95% CI 1.04-3.69) suggesting that null GSTM1 genotype may predispose to resistant hypertension.