Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 25, 2026

Receptor Autoradiography Protocol for the Localized Visualization of Angiotensin II Receptors
Published on: June 7, 2016
Beta-adrenergic receptor blockade and the angiotensin-converting enzyme deletion polymorphism in patients with
Pascal de Groote1, Nicole Helbecque, Nicolas Lamblin
1Service de Cardiologie C, Hôpital Cardiologique, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Lille, Boul Prof J Leclercq, 59037 Lille, France.
Insights
Beta-blocker therapy effectively improves heart failure (HF) outcomes, regardless of the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) I/D polymorphism. This study found no evidence of a pharmacogenetic interaction influencing myocardial function or survival in HF patients treated with beta-blockers.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Pharmacogenetics
- Genetics
Background:
- Beta-adrenergic receptor blockade is a standard treatment for chronic heart failure (HF).
- Previous research suggested a potential pharmacogenetic interaction between beta-blocker therapy and the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) I/D polymorphism in HF patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of the ACE I/D polymorphism on myocardial function changes in HF patients undergoing beta-blocker therapy.
- To determine if the ACE I/D genotype influences the response to beta-blocker treatment in chronic heart failure.
Main Methods:
- 199 patients with chronic HF, not on beta-blockers, were studied.
- Echocardiography, radionuclide angiography, and cardiopulmonary exercise tests were performed before and after beta-blocker initiation.
- Genomic DNA was analyzed to determine the ACE I/D polymorphism (II, ID, DD genotypes).
Main Results:
- All ACE I/D genotypes (II, ID, DD) showed significant and similar improvements in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) after beta-blocker therapy.
- Peak oxygen consumption and the proportion of responders to beta-blockers were comparable across all ACE I/D genotype groups.
- No effect of the ACE I/D polymorphism on cardiac survival was observed during a median follow-up of 933 days.
Conclusions:
- There is no evidence of a pharmacogenetic interaction between the ACE I/D polymorphism and the efficacy of beta-blockade in chronic HF patients.
- Beta-blocker therapy is recommended for all HF patients, irrespective of their ACE I/D genotype (II, ID, or DD).
Background:
Beta-adrenergic receptor blockade is an established treatment of chronic heart failure (HF). Previous studies have suggested a potential pharmacogenetic interaction between beta-blocker therapy and the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) I/D polymorphism in patients with HF.
Aims:
We designed this study to analyze changes in myocardial function of HF patients in response to beta-blocker therapy as a function of the ACE I/D polymorphism.
Methods And Results:
We studied 199 consecutive patients with chronic HF not treated with beta-blockers. Before initiation of beta-blockers and 3 months after the maximal tolerated dose was reached, patients underwent echocardiography, radionuclide angiography, and a cardiopulmonary exercise test. We extracted genomic DNA from white blood cells and determined the ACE I/D polymorphism. Thirty-five (18%) patients had the II genotype, 86 (43%) the ID genotype and 78 (39%) the DD genotype. A significant and similar improvement in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was observed in II (from 0.30+/-0.10 to 0.41+/-0.13; P<0.0001), ID (from 0.29+/-0.11 to 0.39+/-0.13; P<0.0001) and DD patients (from 0.31+/-0.11 to 0.40+/-0.13; P<0.0001). Peak Vo(2) before and after beta-blockade was similar among the three groups. The proportion of responders to beta-blockers (patients without cardiac events during titration who had an increase in LVEF >5% after beta-blockers) was similar among the three groups (II: 65.9%%, ID: 60.6%%, DD: 65.9%; P=NS). During a median follow-up of 933 days, there was no evidence for any effect of ACE I/D polymorphism on cardiac survival.
Conclusions:
We observed no evidence of pharmacogenetic interaction between the ACE I/D polymorphism and the effects of beta-blockade on LVEF and other prognostic parameters in patients with chronic HF. Our results support the initiation of beta-blockers in HF patients with the II or the ID genotype as well as in those with the DD genotype.
Related Concept Videos
Heart Failure Drugs: Inhibitors of Renin-Angiotensin System
Heart Failure Drugs: β-Blockers
Antihypertensive Drugs: Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers
Adrenergic Antagonists: ɑ and β-Receptor Blockers
Antihypertensive Drugs: Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors
Antihypertensive Drugs: Action of β1 Blockers