[Polymorphism of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system: molecular and epidemiogenetic aspects]

The involvement of polymorphic variations in the structure of the renin angiotensin aldosterone system genes in the predisposition to cardiovascular disease is a particularly important field of investigation. A large number of studies have been published and their results are often contradictory. It is therefore important to identify the functional variants modifying the level of expression of these genes or the structure of the encoded proteins. This will allow the clear quantitation of their effect on quantitative phenotypes both in vitro and in vivo. It is also important to study in the future new phenotypes, particularly dynamic phenotypes, potentially influenced by these genotypes and to use them for building a new cardio-vascular pharmacogenetics.