Association between polymorphisms in the renin-angiotensin system genes and prevalence of spontaneously aborted fetuses.

PROBLEM: The renin-angiotensin system is associated with angiogenesis, tissue remodeling, prenatal development, and Th2 cytokine production. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether polymorphisms in angiotensin I-converting enzyme [ACE insertion/deletion (I/D)], angiotensinogen (AGT M235T), and angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1R 1166A>C) affect the prevalence of spontaneously aborted fetuses (SAFs).

METHOD OF STUDY: One hundred and ninety-eight SAFs were <20 weeks of gestational age. The control subjects were 103 healthy children and 640 adults collected from a convenience sample. Polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis were performed to identify the ACE I/D, AGT M235T, and AT1R 1166A>C genotypes.

RESULTS

II/MM/AA, II/MT/AA, and II/TT/AC of ACE/AGT/AT1R were significantly different from controls. In particular, the statistical significance of the II/MM/AA genotype remained strong in chromosomally normal SAFs.

CONCLUSION

Our data suggest that the II/MM/AA of ACE/AGT/AT1R is a possible predisposing factor for spontaneous abortion.