THE RELATIONSHIP OF VENOUS THROMBOEMBOLISM WITH PLASMA ACE LEVELS AND ACE GENE POLIMORPHISM

Venous thromboembolism is a disease which varies from asymptomatic calf vein thrombosis to mortal complications like extremity loose and pulmonary embolism (PE). Despite of progresses on prevention and therapy of VTE, PE is the most cause of early hospital deaths. Ethiology of VTE varies. The relationship between VTE and genetic determinants is understood in recent studies. Most of the genetic mutations and polimorphisms related with VTE are exist on coagulant and anticoagulant proteins. In recent studies it is argued that the genetic determinants of Renin Angiotensin System (RAS) have role in VTE formation. In this review the relationship of VTE with the most investigated Angiotensin-Converting Enzym (ACE) Insertion/Deletion (I/D) polimorphism and plasma ACE levels is described. (Turkish J Vasc Surg 2006;15(1):1-6).