Polymorphisms rs699 and rs4762 of the Angiotensinogen Gene and Progressionof Carotid Atherosclerosis in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Background: The aim of the study was to investigate the association between two polymorphisms of the angiotensinogen (AGT) gene (rs699 and rs4762) and subclinical markers of carotid atherosclerosis in subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Patients and methods: In this cross-sectional study 599 subjects with T2DM and 200 subjects without T2DM (control group) were enrolled. The CIMT and plaque characteristics (presence/absence and plaque thickness) on both the near and the far walls in the common carotid artery, bulb and internal carotid arteries, bilaterally were assessed ultrasonographically. After several years (3.8 ± 0.5 years), patients were re-assessed and changes in subclinical markers of carotid atherosclerosis were calculated. Polymorphisms rs699 and rs4762 of the AGT gene were genotyped by using allele-specific PCR (KASPar) assay. Results: The highest increase in carotid plaque thickness was observed in homozygote carriers of the A allele, even after adjustment for confounding variables. Polymorphism rs699 did not affect the progression of CIMT in the increase of number of segments with plaques. Conclusions: In the study we have found that the rs699 of the AGT gene is a potential genetic marker of carotid atherosclerosis progression (expressed as increase in carotid plaque thickness) in Slovenian patients with T2DM. It did not affect other ultrasonographic markers of carotid atherosclerosis progression. Polypmorphism rs4762 was not associated with carotid atherosclerosis progression in Slovenian patients with T2DM.