Association between angiotensin-converting enzyme I/D polymorphism and sepsis: A meta-analysis.

Background: Previous studies investigating the association between the angiotensin-converting enzyme I/D polymorphism and sepsis have provided inconsistent results. Thus, a meta-analysis was performed to clarify the effect of the angiotensin-converting enzyme I/D polymorphism on sepsis risk and sepsis-related mortality.

Methods: A comprehensive literature search was performed. Six case-control studies and two cohort studies were included in this meta-analysis. Odds ratios and corresponding 95% confidence intervals were estimated using random-effects models.

Results: Pooled analysis of six case-control studies showed that there was a significant association between the angiotensin-converting enzyme I/D polymorphism and sepsis risk in a recessive genetic model (odds ratio = 0.75, 95% confidence interval 0.62-0.91, p = 0.004). However, no significant association between the angiotensin-converting enzyme I/D polymorphism and mortality was observed (odds ratio = 0.84, 95% confidence interval 0.57-1.24, p = 0.38).

Conclusions: Our meta-analysis confirmed that the angiotensin-converting enzyme I/D polymorphism was associated with sepsis risk. However, the angiotensin-converting enzyme I/D polymorphism was not associated with sepsis mortality.