Lack of association between common polymorphisms in genes of the renin-angiotensin system and mortality after myocardial infarction

The insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism in the ACE gene and the A1166C polymorphism in the AT1R gene have been associated with left ventricular remodelling and prognosis after acute myocardial infarction ( AMI). We investigated whether these genetic variants associate with impaired left ventricular ejection fraction ( LVEF) and increased risk for in-hospital mortality after AMI. Consecutive AMI patients were recruited on admission and were genotyped for the above-mentioned polymorphisms. The frequency of the studied genotypes did not differ significantly between deceased patients and those who survived. The LVEF did not differ among patients with or without the DD genotype (45 +/- 10 vs. 45 +/- 10%, p=0.892) or the CC genotype (45 +/- 10 vs. 46 +/- 10%, p=0.859). These data question the role of the studied genotypes in the pathogenesis of AMI and do not support the previously supported hypothesis that these genotypes influence prognosis after AMI.