Binary logistic regression displays that the association of the ACE and AGT gene polymorphisms in DR patients is not significant after adjusting for confounding covariates in all the comparisons.
In a Dutch IDDM population, including 69 patients with (incipient) diabetic nephropathy, the T-allele of the AGT-M235T polymorphism is associated with an elevated UAE and diabetic retinopathy and the CC-genotype of the AT1-A1166C polymorphism is associated with hypertension.
Angiotensin II (Ang II), an active component of the RAS is increased in diabetic retina, and may play a significant role in neurovascular damage leading to the progression of DR.
There is increasing interest in a pathogenetic role for angiotensin II in ischaemic retinopathies such as diabetic retinopathy and retinopathy of prematurity.
Despite evidence that hyperactivity of the vasodeleterious axis (ACE/angiotensin II (Ang II)/AT1 receptor) of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) is associated with the pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy (DR) use of the inhibitors of this axis has met with limited success in the control of this pathophysiology.