ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the distribution of -63A/C polymorphism of human glutathione S-transferase M3(GSTM3) gene in Chinese Han population and the association of -63A/C polymorphism with essential hypertension (EH).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>-63A/C polymorphism of GSTM3 gene was examined by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) in 234 patients with EH and 328 healthy controls. The genotypes were confirmed partially by DNA sequencing.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The distribution of GSTM3 -63A/C was in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. The CC genotype frequency in EH group (6%) was significantly higher than that in control group(1.8%) (P < 0.05). After adjustment for age, body mass index, and other risk factors, the CC genotype was independently associated with hypertension (OR=3.447, 95%CI: 1.19-7.63; P=0.04).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The GSTM3 -63A/C polymorphism was associated with EH in Chinese Han population, the C allele might be a risk factor for EH in Chinese Han nationality.</p>