Association of Angiotensin-converting Enzyme Gene Polymorphism with the Disease Activity of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus in Korean Children / 소아과

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Several recent studies have shown a significant association of angiotensin converting enzyme(ACE) gene polymorphism with systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE). The association has not been consistently confirmed; moreover, the association of ACE genotype with SLE in children has never been evaluated. The aim of this study is to evaluate the association of ACE gene polymorphism with SLE in Korean children. METHODS: Eighty-four children with SLE and 171 controls were recruited in this study. The ACE genotypes were determined by polymerase chain reaction. The serum levels of anti-double stranded (ds)-DNA antibody and serum complement levels(C3 and C4) were measured in all patients for disease activity of SLE. The SLE disease activity index(SLEDAI) were scored for the clinical activity of SLE. RESULTS: The frequency of the ACE genotype DD, DI, and II in children with SLE were 13%, 52%, and 35%, respectively, similar to those in controls(16%, 48%, and 36%, respectively). The disease activity of SLE in children among the three groups of each genotype was independent of the ACE gene polymorphism. CONCLUSION: The result of this study did not show a significant association between the ACE polymorphism and the disease activity of SLE in Korean children.