Genetic factors play a pivotal role in the development and pathogenesis of coronary artery disease (CAD). The angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene insertion (I)/deletion (D) polymorphism is one of the various genetic factors associated with CAD. In this study, we investigated the association between the ACE gene I/D polymorphism and CAD in the Saudi population. A total of 210 CAD patients were studied, while 103 age-matched healthy adults were used as control subjects. ACE I/D polymorphism was detected by electrophoresing the amplified PCR ACE product on an agarose gel, and several biochemical and behavioral markers were monitored.In the CAD group, we determined that the DD genotype frequency was 65.7%, whereas 27.6% of the patients carried the ID genotype, and 6.7% carried the II genotype. Within the control group, 57.3% carried the DD genotype, 25.2% carried the ID genotype, and 17.5%carried the II genotype. The odds ratio (OR) of the ACE genotype ID versus the II genotype at a 95% confidence interval (CI) was 2.87 (1.24-6.63, p <0.01), and the OR of the DD versus the II genotype at a 95% CI was 3.01 (1.40-6.44, p <0.004). Our results provide a significant association between the ID and DD ACE polymorphisms in CAD patients in the Saudi population.
