Angiotensinogen Thr235 Mutation

Have always been interested in why the heck I got preeclampsia, but when I developed chronic hypertension after the birth of Meghan, things started to make sense. Hypertension runs in my family, and the medication that I take is an ACE inhibitor, which is an antiangiotensingen controlling enzyme (ACE). This study abtract makes me wonder...I never had a placental abruption though. I suppose my mom and Aunt Susan might like to read this. Let me know if you do Mom or Susan.

1: Placenta. 2006 Nov 17; [Epub ahead of print]

Placental Abruption Is More Frequent in Women with the Angiotensinogen Thr235 Mutation.

Zhang XQ, Craven C, Nelson L, Varner MW, Ward KJ.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive Genetics, University of Utah, School of Medicine, 50 N Medical Drive, Wintrobe Building Room 657, Salt Lake City, UT 84132, USA.

OBJECTIVE: Obstetrical complications such as preeclampsia, fetal growth restriction, and placental abruption are associated with inadequate placental perfusion. Previous studies have shown that the angiotensinogen (AGT) Thr235 mutation is associated with abnormal remodeling of the uterine spiral arteries and occurs at higher frequencies in preeclampsia. This study was done to evaluate whether the AGT Thr235 mutation increases the risk of placental abruption. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We compared 62 placentas from women who had placental abruption with 240 control patients of similar age and ethnicity. DNA was extracted from paraffin blocks from placentas. AGT Met235Thr mutation status was determined by single fluoresceine labeled probe real-time PCR using a LightCycler system. RESULT: AGT genotypes were divided into three groups: MM (homozygous wild), TT (homozygous mutant), and MT (heterozygous). The constituent ratio of AGT genotype in abrupted placentas (MM 14.5%, MT 43.5%, TT 41.9%) was significantly different from in control group (MM42.5%, MT 39.6%, TT 17.9%) (p<0.001). AGT mutant allele frequency in placental abruption (0.637) was significantly higher than in the control group (0.377) (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: The AGT Thr235 mutation was observed more frequently in placental abruption. AGT Thr235 mutation may be considered a risk factor for placental abruption.

PMID: 17116328 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]