Association of gene polymorphisms of four components of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system and preeclampsia in South African black women.

To investigate the association of the gene polymorphisms of: angiotensinogen (AGT), renin (REN), angiotensin II receptor 1 (AT1R) and angiotensin II receptor 2 (AT2R), in the pathogenesis of PE in South African Black women.603 pregnant women; 246 normotensive and 357 with PE (early-onset=187, late-onset=170), were recruited. Each study group was subdivided into HIV infected and uninfected groups. The distribution and frequencies of gene polymorphisms of AGT (M235T), REN (C-5312T), AT1R (A1166C) and AT2R (C3123A) were determined in purified DNA by Real Time Polymerase Chain Reaction.The distribution of T allele and TT genotype of AGT in PE were significantly higher than the normotensive group (95% vs 91%, OR 1.9, 95%CI 1.2-3.1, p=0.0051; 90% vs 83%, OR 1.84, 95%CI 1.11-3.05, p=0.01) respectively. The distributions of genotypes of REN, AT1R and AT2R were similar in PE and normotensive groups.The T allele of AGT may play a role in the pathogenesis of PE. The genotypes of REN, AT1R and AT2R were not associated with the development of PE.