Ambulatory systolic blood pressure is related to the deletion allele of the angiotensin I converting enzyme gene in young normotensives with parental history of hypertension.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the relationship between the angiotensin I converting enzyme (ACE) gene polymorphism and ambulatory blood pressure in young normotensive males with (n=45) and without (n=100) family history of hypertension. Twenty-four hour and daytime systolic blood pressure was significantly higher in subjects with a parental history of hypertension. Ambulatory blood pressure values did not differ significantly across ACE genotypes in subjects with negative family history of hypertension. In subjects with a parental history of hypertension, there was a significant positive association between the D allele of the ACE gene polymorphism and 24-h, daytime and nighttime systolic blood pressure. For twenty-four hour systolic blood pressure there was an average 9 mmHg difference between subjects with DD and II genotypes. The results indicate that in normotensive subjects with a genetic predisposition to hypertension, ambulatory systolic blood pressure is related to the D allele of the ACE gene.