RESUMO
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the association of the polymorphisms of rs4961 in alpha-adducin (ADD1) and rs28933400 in Na+/K+ -ATPase a2 (ATP1A2) genes, the products of which are important for sodium transport, with essential hypertension.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Mutagenically separated PCR (MS-PCR) was used to detect the genotypes of the two loci. The subjects were recruited randomly including 196 patients of essential hypertension and 192 healthy controls.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The frequencies of genotypes and alleles of in the ADD1 gene were significantly different between the patients and controls respectively (P=0.03, P=0.04). There was significant relationship between the genotypes of rs4961 and systolic blood pressure and blood sodium concentration. However, there was no significant relationship between the rs4961 genotypes and diastolic blood pressure, body mass index, blood kalium and chlorine concentrations. There was no polymorphism at the rs28933400 locus in the subjects analyzed.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The rs4961 polymorphism of the ADD1 gene is associated with essential hypertension, but the rs28933400 locus in the ATP1A2 gene may have no association with essential hypertension in the studied population.</p>