Huang AF, et al. - Researchers investigated the association between angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) insertion/deletion (I/D) gene polymorphism and susceptibility to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)/lupus nephritis (LN). Findings might suggest that ACE I/D polymorphism may be a genetic molecular marker to predict SLE, while there may not exist any correlation between this polymorphism and LN susceptibility.

Methods

• In this meta-analysis, using the allelic contrast; the recessive; the dominant; and the additive models, researchers investigated the link between the ACE I/D polymorphism and SLE/LN (when available).

Results

• They identified a total of 27 relevant comparisons meeting the inclusion criteria, comprising 2718 SLE patients and 3655 controls.
• In overall populations, a significant association was reported between SLE and the allele D (odds ratio [OR] = 1.25, 95% CI: 1.07–1.48, P=0.004).
• Ethnicity-based stratification suggested a strong link between the allele D and SLE in Asians (OR = 1.36, 95% CI: 1.05–1.75, P=0.019).
• Also, data demonstrated a significant association between SLE and the DD genotype in overall populations (additive model) (OR = 1.38, 95% CI: 1.05–1.83, P=0.022).
• In overall populations, Asians and Europeans, researchers found significant associations between the recessive model and SLE (OR = 1.44, 95% CI: 1.11–1.88, P=0.007; OR = 1.69, 95% CI: 1.07–2.68, P=0.024; and OR = 1.31, 95% CI: 1.06–1.62, P=0.013, respectively).
• No significant association was observed in either the overall populations or subpopulations as regards the association between ACE I/D gene polymorphism and LN risk.