Objective To evaluate the potential implications of the genetic variability of angiotensin converting enzyme, angiotensinogen and angiotensin II type 1 receptor gene for essential hypertension in Tibetan. Methods A case-control study was conducted in 173 hypertensive individuals and 193 individuals with normal blood pressure. Multiple logistic regression analyses were used to estimate the risks of developing hypertension for different genotypes, and haplotype analyses of the angiotensinogen gene were used to determine the association between two-locus angiotensinogen gene polymorphisms and hypertension. Results As to the risk to high blood pressure and high systolic pressure, women with MM genotype were 7.7 (95% CI: 1.3-20.5) and 8.7 (95% CI: 1.8-20.1) times higher than those with TT genotype after adjustment for age and body mass index. Haplotype frequencies for M235T and G-6A were significantly different between hypertensive individuals and controls, which indicated an association of angiotensinogen gene haplotypes with hypertension, and a significant association of 235T/-6A haplotype with hypotensive effect. Conclusion Our results suggest that angiotensinogen gene 235MM is a predictor for hypertension development in Tibetan women but not in men, and may exert its hypertensive effect on linkage disequilibrum with a possible function locus of G-6A.
