An endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene polymorphism is associated with preeclampsia

We sought to test the hypothesis that a polymorphism of the endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene (NOS3) is associated with preeclampsia.

We collected and performed polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on genomic DNA from pregnant patients with and without preeclampsia. Patient history and clinical course were evaluated.

Frequency of the intron 4 polymorphism of NOS3 (designated allele A) among patients with preeclampsia compared with controls. Clinical features of patients with preeclampsia and the A allele compared with those patients with preeclampsia who did not have the A allele.

The frequency of the A allele was 0.10 among controls versus 0.39 among patients with preeclampsia (p < 0.01). The odds ratio of developing preeclampsia when at least one A allele was present was 6.5 [95% confidence interval (CI): 2.1-19.7]. After adjusting for ethnic variation, the odds ratio increased to 7.2 (95% CI: 2.0-25.5). Among patients with preeclampsia, systolic blood pressure at the time of admission was higher for patients with at least one A allele compared with patients homozygous for the B allele (168 versus 156 mm Hg; p = 0.03), independent of gestational age (p = 0.01).

These data provide evidence for an association between NOS3 and preeclampsia. In defined ethnic groups, this NOS3 may offer predictive information regarding the subsequent development of preeclampsia and its clinical course.