Angiotensin converting enzyme insertion/deletion polymorphism does not alter sepsis outcome in ventilated very low birth weight infants

Abstract

Objective: This study compared the effect of the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphisms on the incidence and outcome of sepsis in ventilated very low birth weight infants. Study design: Infectious complications were retrospectively determined in 295 (234 African-American, 58 Caucasian and three Hispanic) mechanically ventilated very low birth weight (VLBA) infants (< 1500 g at birth) and compared ACE I/D genotype. Results: The incidence of the D allele in the study population was 0.60. A total of 113 (38.3%) infants were homozygous DD, 128 (43.4%) were heterozygous ID and 54 (18.3%) were homozygous II. One or more episodes of late BSI developed in 28 (52%) of 54 infants with the II genotype, 66 (52%) of 128 infants with the ID genotype and 52 (46%) of 113 infants with the DD genotype (p = 0.618). Neither the rates of non-CONS BSI (II: 24%, ID: 23%, DD: 22%; p = 0.937) nor multiple bacteremic/fungemic episodes (II: 13%, ID: 16%, DD: 12%; p = 0.641) were different between genotype groups. The ACE I/D polymorphism had no effect on sepsis-related mortality (II: 7%, ID: 5%, DD: 4%; p = 0.692). Sepsis mortality for infants with late BSI was 14% in infants with the II genotype, 9% with the ID genotype and 10% with the DD genotype (p = 0.764). Conclusions: The ACF I/D polymorphism does not have a significantly effect on the incidence or outcome of sepsis in ventilated VLBW infants. © 2005 Nature Publishing Group. All rights reserved.