Left ventricular structure in relation to the human SAH gene in the European Project on Genes in Hypertension.

Earlier studies showed association of the human SAH (Spontaneously hypertensive rat-clone A-Hypertension associated) gene with hypertension and obesity. Left ventricular mass index (LVMI) increases with blood pressure and body mass index. In a family-based population study (54.5% women; mean age, 43.1 years), we measured LVMI, mean wall thickness (MWT) and the left ventricular internal diameter (LVID) at end-diastole in 699 non-Slavic and 493 Slavic participants. In multivariable-adjusted analyses, we investigated phenotype\u2013genotype associations (SAH G1606A and 962ins/del polymorphisms), while accounting for confounders and relatedness. Non-Slavic 1606GG homozygotes had a slightly greater LVID than 1606A allele carriers (48.6 vs. 48.0 mm; P\ubc0.08). However, the between-family component of the variance in LVID was significant (P\ubc0.005), suggesting that population stratification might explain the latter finding. Non-Slavic 962del carriers had higher LVMI (91.1 vs. 88.5 gm2; P\ubc0.03) and MWT (9.61 vs. 9.44 mm; P\ubc0.03) than 962ins homozygotes. Transmission of the 962del to non-Slavic offspring was also associated with higher MWT (P\ubc0.03). In Slavic participants, in the absence of population stratification (PX0.69), 1606GG homozygotes had lower LVMI (96.5 vs. 102.3 gm2; P\ubc0.004) and lower MWT (10.1 vs. 10.5 mm; P\ubc0.003) than 1606A carriers. Sensitivity analyses showed that the latter associations were confined to founders. Transmission of the 962del allele to Slavic offspring was associated with lower MWT (P\ubc0.007). In conclusion, LVMI and MWT, two phenotypes that are jointly influenced by blood pressure and obesity, might be related to variation in the human SAH gene