Hypertension-related gene polymorphisms in pre-eclampsia, eclampsia and gestational hypertension in Black South African women.

Objective: To examine whether polymorphisms in the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) are associated with pregnancy-related hypertensive disorders in a black South African population.

Design: The angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) insertion/deletion, angiotensinogen M235T and angiotensin II receptor type 1 1166A<--C polymorphisms were assessed in study groups comprising 204 women with pre-eclampsia, 120 with eclampsia, 67 with early onset pre-eclampsia and 78 with gestational hypertension.

Methods: Using chi analysis, results were compared with those obtained from 338 ethnically matched normotensive pregnant women following normal full term pregnancies.