ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To verify the linkage of the candidate regions identified in a previous study (markers D2S168, D2S151, D2S142 on chromosome 2) with hypertension in Chinese families.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A genetic linkage study focused on chromosome 2 was performed on 240 Chinese families containing 856 patients with essential hypertension. A total of 1080 individuals were genotyped using 9 highly polymorphic microsatellite markers around the candidate regions on chromosome 2 with an average spacing of 5 cM. Non-parametric linkage (NPL), parametric linkage analysis and transmission-disequilibrium test (TDT) with the GENEHUNTER software were used to assess evidence for linkage.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Linkage of a region on chromosome 2 around D2S151 and D2S142 with hypertension was confirmed by different statistical methods (NPL, LOD score and TDT). However, the linkage of D2S168 could not be replicated in this extension study.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The data suggest that a region on chromosome 2 at or near the loci of D2S142 and D2S151 may harbor genes responsible for the development of essential hypertension in Chinese.</p>