Association of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) gene I/D polymorphism and rheumatoid arthritis.

We sought to determine the frequency of I/D polymorphism genotypes of angiotensin converting enzyme gene in Turkish patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Genomic DNA obtained from 256 individuals (110 patients with rheumatoid arthritis and 146 healthy controls) was used in the study. ACE gene I/D polymorphism genotypes were determined using polymerase chain reaction using I and D allele-specific primers. There was a statistically significant difference between the groups with respect to genotype distribution (p=0.001). A significant difference was found in frequencies of ACE I/D alleles between patients and controls, with RA patients having a higher representation of D and lower representation of I alleles compared to controls (p<0.001). As a result of our study, angiotensin converting enzyme gene I/D polymorphism DD genotype could be a genetic marker in rheumatoid arthritis in the Turkish study population.