Association of restriction fragment length polymorphism at the atrial natriuretic peptide gene locus with aldosterone responsiveness to angiotensin in aldosterone-producing adenoma.

Primary aldosteronism is an important, potentially curable, form of hypertension. We examined the possible association between restriction fragment length polymorphisms in the atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) gene and responsiveness of aldosterone to angiotensin II in 59 patients with primary aldosteronism due to aldosterone-producing adenoma (APA). Significant differences in the allelic frequencies of the BglI, TaqI and XhoI polymorphic sites at the ANP gene locus (chromosome 1; 1p36) between angiotensin II-unresponsive and angiotensin II-responsive tumors were observed. Variation in the ANP gene between the two groups may result in altered expression of ANP within the adrenal gland, and may contribute to the biochemical regulation of aldosterone production of these two subgroups of patients with APA.