Relation Between M235T Polymorphism of the Angiotensinogen Gene and Coronary Artery Disease in Taiwanese: An Angiography-Controlled Study

Background: Polymorphisms of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system have been found in association with coronary artery disease (CAD). The M235T polymorphism is the most important angiotensinogen (AGT) genetic variant. The relationship between AGT gene polymorphisms and CAD has been investigated in only a few studies, however, with conflicting results. In most of these studies, not all participants underwent coronary angiography to determine the existence of coronary artery stenosis. In this study, we tested this relationship again in Taiwanese subjects who underwent coronary angiography. Methods: This study enrolled 576 patients who underwent coronary angiography, including 362 patients with CAD (the CAD group) and 214 without CAD (the control group). The M235T angiotensinogen genotypes were determined by polymerase chain reaction and subsequent digestion of the products with Tth 111I. Results: The frequencies of the variant M235T genotypes in the CAD group were MM 3.3%, MT 52.2%, and TT 44.5%, not significantly different from those in the control group (MM 3.7%, MT 49.5%, and TT 46.7%) (p = 0.82). In multivariate analysis regarding the presence of CAD with respect to the existence of polymorphism, the odds ratios were 0.85 (95% CI = 0.60-1.23, p = 0.39) for T235 homozygote, and 0.91 (95% CI = 0.69-1.20, p = 0.49) for T allele. Conclusion: This study shows that the AGT M235T polymorphism is not associated with the presence of coronary artery disease in the Taiwanese population.