Effect of angiotensin-converting enzyme gene insertion/deletion polymorphism and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition on erythropoiesis in patients on haemodialysis.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEis) improve survival; however, their effect on erythropoiesis remains a matter of debate in this population. Since insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism of the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene largely influences serum ACE activity, its effect on erythropoiesis is also anticipated. METHOD: In this multicentre, cross-sectional study of 660 patients on maintenance haemodialysis, we analysed the effect of ACEi use and ACE gene I/D polymorphism on haemoglobin levels and erythropoietin resistance. Patients were allocated in groups based on genotype and ACEi therapy. We identified 128 matched pairs with I/I and D/D genotypes. RESULT: There was no difference in haemoglobin levels between genotype groups. Haemoglobin levels were lower in patients on ACEi therapy in the entire cohort (95.5+/-12.1 g/l vs 97.4+/-13.4 g/l, p=0.02) and patients with I/D (95.2+/-11 g/l vs 98.2+/-11.9 g/l, p=0.04) and D/D (93.3+/-13.2 g/l vs 97.4+/-14.2 g/l, p=0.02) genotypes. In patient pairs treated with ACEi therapy, subjects with D/D genotype had lower Haemoglobin level (93.0+/-12.8 g/l vs 98.2+/-11.9 g/l, p=0.006) and higher erythropoietin resistance index (ERI) (199.1 vs 175.0, p=0.046) than individuals with I/I genotype. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that ACEi therapy may increase erythropoietin resistance and worsen erythropoiesis in haemodialysis patients with the D allele.