Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Insertion/Deletion Gene Polymorphism in Chronic Rhinosinusitis with Nasal Polyps

Inflammatory processes play a role in the etiopathogenesis of chronic rhinosinusitis. Many gene polymorphisms have been associated with inflammation. In this study, we aimed to examine the relationship between angiotensin-converting enzyme insertion/deletion gene polymorphism and chronic rhinosinusitis.

Fifty-two cases with nasal polyps and 139 control patients were included in the study. Angiotensin-converting enzyme insertion/deletion gene polymorphisms, genotype, and allele distributions were determined. Results were statistically compared between groups.

Statistically significant differences were found between the chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps group and the control group in terms of genotype and allele distribution (p=0.015, 0.003, respectively). There were no significant differences in genotype distribution in the chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps group in terms of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) allergy, asthma, and NSAID-exacerbated respiratory disease (p=0.645, 0.660, 0.095, respectively).

We observed that the risk of chronic rhinosinusitis is higher in individuals with the deletion-deletion genotype and D allele of the angiotensin-converting enzyme insertion/deletion gene polymorphism. We believe that these results could be related to the high angiotensin-converting enzyme levels in these patients.