Relationship between −344T/C polymorphism in the aldosterone synthase gene and atrial fibrillation in patients with essential hypertension

Abstract

Introduction: Aldosterone plays an important role in the pathogenesis of non-familial atrial fibrillation (AF). We tested the hypothesis that the −344T/C polymorphism in the aldosterone synthase gene may be associated with non-familial AF in Chinese patients with hypertension.

Materials and methods: We performed a 1:1 paired case–control study in 310 cases of hypertension with AF and same number matched controls. The −344T/C polymorphism was determined with polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism.

Results: The distribution of the CYP11B2 genotypes (TT, TC and CC) was 41.9%, 50.6%, and 7.4% in AF patients, which was not different from controls (48.4%, 44.5%, and 7.1%, χ² = 2.675, p = 0.263). The difference between the C allele (32.3% vs. 29.4%) was also not significant between two groups (χ² = 1.661, p = 0.197). Logistic regression analysis showed that LAD and LVEDD (both p < 0.001), rather than the C allele of the CYP11B2 gene (p= 0.107) were significant predictors for AF. The LAD of C allele carriers is significantly larger than that of non-C allele carriers (p = 0.009).

Conclusions: Our results indicate that the −344T/C polymorphism in the aldostrone synthase gene is not associated with AF but it might be associated with atrial remodelling in hypertensives.