Gulf Arab Population Research Articles

The known and unknown about attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) genetics: a special emphasis on Arab population.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a clinically and genetically heterogeneous neurodevelopmental syndrome characterized by behavioral appearances such as impulsivity, inattention, and hyperactivity. The prevalence of ADHD is high in childhood when compared to adults. ADHD has been significantly advanced by genetic research over the past 25years. However, it is logically conceivable that both genetic and/or non-genetic factors, such as postnatal environmental and social influences, are associated with ADHD phenotype in Arab populations. While genetic influences are strongly linked with the etiology of ADHD, it remains obscure how consanguinity which is an underlying factor for many genetic diseases, contributes to ADHD subtypes. Arabian Gulf Nations have one the highest rates of consanguineous marriages, and consanguinity plays an important contributing factor in many genetic diseases that exist in higher percentages in Arabian Gulf Nations. Therefore, the current review aims to shed light on the genetic variants associated with ADHD subtypes in Arabian Gulf nations and Saudi Arabia in particular. It also focuses on the symptoms and the diagnosis of ADHD before turning to the neuropsychological pathways and subgroups of ADHD. The impact of a consanguinity-based understanding of the ADHD subtype will help to understand the genetic variability of the Arabian Gulf population in comparison with the other parts of the world and will provide novel information to develop new avenues for future research in ADHD.

Studies of Serrasentis sagittifer (Linton, 1889) Van Cleave, 1923 from cobia Rachycentron canadum (Linn.) in the Arabian Gulf; with Molecular Analysis and Optical Microscopy

The finding of a population of Serrasentis sagittifer (Linton, 1889) Van Cleave, 1923 in Cobia Rachycentron canadum (Linn.) in the Arabian Gulf off Iranian waters prompted the study of its molecular parameters known previously only from a population of adults from the same host species, and of immatures from northern Australian waters and from other hosts in the Red Sea. We have previously described S. sagittifer from Cobia and from paratenic hosts in the same Gulf waters off Kuwait and Qatar and detailed its worldwide morphological variability and geographical distribution. We have processed and sampled a few specimens from the Arabian Gulf off Iran for morphological verification of their diagnosis and offered a few light microscopical images that accentuate their identity in Iranian waters for the first time. We document additional diagnostic features of S. sagittifer using optical microscopy. We determine that the distribution of S. sagittifer runs parallel that of its primary adult host, R. canadum, worldwide. We have used the 18S and 28S gene regions of ribosomal RNA, including the mitochondrial cox1 gene, for molecular analysis of an Arabian Gulf population for the first time. Maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference methods were used for phylogenetic reconstructions, the sequences of S. sagittifer from Iran were grouped within the genus Serrasentis and placed as a sister group to S. nadakali George and Nadakal, 1978. Due to the lack of molecular data for other species of this group of Rhadinorhynchidae, the present phylogenetic inferences are required to continue exploring the genetic diversity of this group of species to infer their phylogeny. The cox 1 haplotype network inferred with 14 sequences of S. sagittifer revealed 13 haplotypes separated from each other by a few substitutions. Our ocular microscopy accentuated morphological details of S. Sagittifer and the haplotype network genealogy produced in this study based on mt cox1 sequences from S. sagitiffer show a phylogeographic structure for the first time; therefore, the haplotypes grouped into their own geographic clusters.

The Gulf Achievement of Cholesterol Targets in Out-Patients Study (GULF ACTION): Design, Rationale, and Preliminary Results.

To assess the current dyslipidemia management in the Arabian Gulf region by describing the demographics, study design, and preliminary results of out-patients who achieved low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) goals at the time of the survey. The Arabian Gulf population is at high risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease at younger ages. There is no up-to-date study regarding dyslipidemia management in this region, especially given the recent guideline-recommended LDL-C targets. Up-to-date comprehensive assessment of the current dyslipidemia management in the Arabian Gulf region, particularly in view of the recent evidence of the additive beneficial effects of ezetimibe and proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin-9 (PCSK-9) inhibitors on LDL-C levels and cardiovascular outcomes. The Gulf Achievement of Cholesterol Targets in Out-Patients (GULF ACTION) is an ongoing national observational longitudinal registry of 3000 patients. In this study, adults ≥18 years on lipid-lowering drugs for over three months from out-patients of five Gulf countries were enrolled between January 2020 and May 2022 with planned six-month and one-year follow-ups. Of the 1015 patients enrolled, 71% were male, aged 57.9±12 years. In addition, 68% had atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), 25% of these patients achieved the LDL-C target, and 26% of the cohort were treated using combined lipid-lowering drugs, including statins. The preliminary results of this cohort revealed that only one-fourth of ASCVD patients achieved LDL-C targets. Therefore, GULF ACTION shall improve our understanding of current dyslipidemia management and "guideline gaps" in the Arabian Gulf region.

Anatomical Variations of the Saphenous Fascia in the Omani Population

Objectives: The aim of this study is to detect the anatomical variations of the saphenous fascia (SF) around the great saphenous vein (GSV) in the Omani population and compare it to published studies in other populations. The extent of the SF has been documented to vary between certain populations. There are no such studies from the Arabian Gulf population. Methods: Following ethical approval, bilateral lower limbs of 100 consecutive consenting volunteers at our tertiary care university hospital were scanned using an ultrasound scan. The GSV was traced from the groin to ankle, and the point of exit from the SF was noted. Results: The results showed that the majority of the Omani population had a SF ending at the upper thigh (39.5%). The next most common location was at the mid-thigh (26.5%). Conclusions: This study found that the course of the GSV within the SF can differ between populations. This has important implications in the pathophysiology and endovenous treatment options offered to Omani patients seeking treatment for varicose veins.

Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders in the Arabian Gulf: challenges and growing experience.

Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) have been studied in different ethnic groups, including Asians, African-Americans, and Caucasians. Demonstrating the clinical features among diverse communities is important to understand the variable disease phenotypes, which will lead to further classification and better clinical management. Testing for antibody against aquaporin-4 (AQP4), the most common target antigen in NMOSD, is not available in many countries and tests use different methods, with variable sensitivity. With negative antibody results, the diagnosis of NMOSD becomes challenging and may affect the outcomes of patients with NMOSD. There are no adequate studies that assess NMOSD cohorts in the Arabian Gulf region, despite the increasing number of diagnosed cases. It is worth assessing NMOSD cohorts in the Arabian Gulf population to study the natural history of disease and to establish an epidemiological background for future perspectives. Various challenges to implement such a mission are outlined, including disease rarity, overlapping presenting symptoms and signs, which posed the issue of mimickers in the differential diagnosis, lack of specialized clinics, absence of highly sensitive testing methods for diagnosis, and the indefinite agreement on the negative AQP4 NMOSD criteria. Collaborative efforts started to take a place among many experts in the region to establish a registry of NMOSD patients for better perception of the disease pattern.

Assessment of the committed effective dose due to the 210Po intake from fish consumption for the Arabian Gulf population

This study aims to assess the committed effective dose due to the intake of 210Po from the consumption of fish in Arabian Gulf countries. Twenty different kinds of fish, which represent the most common fish species consumed in the Arabian Gulf countries, were analyzed using alpha spectrometer technique. 210Po activity concentrations in fish samples were found to vary over a wide range from 0.1 to 14.7 Bq kg−1 fresh weight. This variation of 210Po concentrations between various type of fish samples might be attributed to the feeding type pattern and the size of fish. The annual committed effective dose due to ingestion of 210Po in fish species for adults in the Arabian Gulf countries was estimated and found to vary from 38 μSv in Bahrain to 85 μSv in Oman with an average value of 59 μSv. These values are considered relatively high compared to those reported in some other regions. However, it is still much lower than the world average ingestion dose due to natural radiation sources.

ZFAT gene variant association with multiple sclerosis in the Arabian Gulf population: A genetic basis for gender-associated susceptibility

Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are useful genetic markers to investigate the onset of multiple sclerosis (MS). A genome wide association study identified 7 SNPs associated with interferon-β therapy response, however, not with MS risk in a Spanish population. To investigate these findings in a different cohort, the 7 SNPs were investigated in an Arabian Gulf population. The SNPs were analyzed in 268 subjects (156 patients and 112 healthy volunteers) from the Arabian Gulf region using restriction fragment length polymorphism-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and KBioscience Competitive Allele Specific PCR genotyping methods. Associations between the SNPs and MS were investigated using logistic regression. The present study observed, for the first time, that in an Arabian Gulf population, the ZFAT rs733254 polymorphism (T>G) is a gender-specific risk marker for MS. ZFAT was associated with MS in women but not in men. The G variant was highly associated with the risk of MS [odds ratio (OR)=2.38 and 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.45–3.91); P=0.0014]. Whereas variant T was a significantly protective factor [OR=0.420 (95% CI, 0.25–0.69); P=0.0014, recessive model]. The findings of the present study provide a genetic basis for the gender-associated susceptibility to MS. In addition, this MS-associated rs733254 SNP may predict MS onset in females from the Arabian Gulf population.

Validation of the 6-Month GRACE Score in Predicting 1-Year Mortality of Patients With Acute Coronary Syndrome Admitted to the Arabian Gulf Hospitals.

Acute coronary syndromes (ACS) are the most common cardiovascular diseases and are associated with a significant risk of mortality and morbidity. The Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events (GRACE) risk score postdischarge is a widely used ACS prediction model for risk of mortality (low, intermediate, and high); however, it has not yet been validated in patients from the Arabian Gulf. This prospective multicenter study (second Gulf Registry of Acute Coronary Events) provides detailed information of the GRACE risk score postdischarge in patients from the Arabian Gulf. Its prognostic utility was validated at 1-year follow-up in over 5000 patients with ACS from 65 hospitals in 6 Arabian Gulf countries (Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen). Overall, the goodness of fit (Hosmer and Lemeshow statistic P value = .826), calibration, and discrimination (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve = 0.695; 95% confidence interval: 0.668-0.722) were good. The GRACE risk score postdischarge can be used to stratify 1 year mortality risk in the Arabian Gulf population; it does not require further calibration and has a good discriminatory ability.

Liver Disease in Women: A Focused View on Saudis as a Model for the Arabian Gulf Population

Liver disease is a leading cause for morbidity and mortality among males and females. Due to several sex hormonal differences between females and males, manifestations and outcomes of liver diseases are different between male and females and several previous reports had addressed these differences. Reports on liver disease among Saudis are sporadic mostly addressing one or two forms of liver disease separately with limited attention to the sex difference in liver disease. This paper is addressing common liver disease among Saudis, stressing on the gender difference in liver disease.

Copy number variations in the genome of the Qatari population.

BackgroundThe populations of the Arabian Peninsula remain the least represented in public genetic databases, both in terms of single nucleotide variants and of larger genomic mutations. We present the first high-resolution copy number variation (CNV) map for a Gulf Arab population, using a hybrid approach that integrates array genotyping intensity data and next-generation sequencing reads to call CNVs in the Qatari population.MethodsCNVs were detected in 97 unrelated Qatari individuals by running two calling algorithms on each of two primary datasets: high-resolution genotyping (Illumina Omni 2.5M) and high depth whole-genome sequencing (Illumina PE 100bp). The four call-sets were integrated to identify high confidence CNV regions, which were subsequently annotated for putative functional effect and compared to public databases of CNVs in other populations. The availability of genome sequence was leveraged to identify tagging SNPs in high LD with common deletions in this population, enabling their imputation from genotyping experiments in the future.ResultsGenotyping intensities and genome sequencing data from 97 Qataris were analyzed with four different algorithms and integrated to discover 16,660 high confidence CNV regions (CNVRs) in the total population, affecting ~28 Mb in the median Qatari genome. Up to 40 % of all CNVs affected genes, including novel CNVs affecting Mendelian disease genes, segregating at different frequencies in the 3 major Qatari subpopulations, including those with Bedouin, Persian/South Asian, and African ancestry. Consistent with high consanguinity levels in the Bedouin subpopulation, we found an increased burden for homozygous deletions in this group. In comparison to known CNVs in the comprehensive Database of Genomic Variants, we found that 5 % of all CNVRs in Qataris were completely novel, with an enrichment of CNVs affecting several known chromosomal disorder loci and genes known to regulate sugar metabolism and type 2 diabetes in the Qatari cohort. Finally, we leveraged the availability of genome sequence to find suitable tagging SNPs for common deletions in this population.ConclusionWe combine four independently generated datasets from 97 individuals to study CNVs for the first time at high-resolution in a Gulf Arab population.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12864-015-1991-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Demography and Population Dynamics of Massive Coral Communities in Adjacent High Latitude Regions (United Arab Emirates)

Individual massive coral colonies, primarily faviids and poritids, from three distinct assemblages within the southeastern Arabian Gulf and northwestern Gulf of Oman (United Arab Emirates) were studied from 2006–2009. Annual photographic censuses of approximately 2000 colonies were used to describe the demographics (size class frequencies, abundance, area cover) and population dynamics under “normal” environmental conditions. Size class transitions included growth, which occurred in 10–20% of the colonies, followed in decending order by partial mortality (3–16%), colony fission (<5%) and ramet fusion (<3%). Recruitment and whole colony mortality rates were low (<0.7 colonies/m2) with minimal interannual variation. Transition matrices indicated that the Arabian Gulf assemblages have declining growth rates (λ<1) whereas the massive coral population is stable (λ = 1) in the Gulf of Oman. Projection models indicated that (i) the Arabian Gulf population and area cover declines would be exacerbated under 10-year and 16-year disturbance scenarios as the vital rates do not allow for recovery to pre-disturbance levels during these timeframes, and (ii) the Gulf of Oman assemblage could return to its pre-disturbance area cover but its overall population size would not fully recover under the same scenarios.

Allergic rhinitis: prevalence and possible risk factors in a Gulf Arab population

Epidemiological studies mainly from Europe, the USA and Asia indicate a high prevalence of allergic rhinitis (AR) in modern societies. However, little is known about AR among the heterogeneous population of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). To estimate the prevalence of AR and its independent risk factors in Al-Ain City, UAE. We used a validated, self-administered questionnaire modified from the ISAAC study to collect data from a two stage randomly selected sample of 10 000 school children. Overall, 7550 subjects (aged 13 years and above, siblings, and their parents) responded. We assessed the prevalence of AR (both crude and standardized prevalence of previous 12 months) as well as the independent relationship of AR with age, gender, education, nationality and family history by means of logistic regression. The response rate was 76%. A total of 6543 subjects (median age 30 years) were included in the final analysis. Self-reported prevalence of AR (having symptoms in the past 12 months) was 36%, while adjusted values for sex/age yielded a prevalence of 32%. Regression analysis revealed that AR was independently associated with family history, Arab origin, younger age, female gender and higher education. The relatively high prevalence of AR found in this study may be attributable to modernization and genetic factors. Further studies on the impact of rapid environmental and cultural changes on AR in the Arab countries are needed and currently planned in conjunction with GA(2)LEN (Global Allergy and Asthma European Network).

Body Mass and Atherogenic Dyslipidemia as Major Determinants of Blood Levels of B-Type Natriuretic Peptides in Arab Subjects With Acute Coronary Syndromes

The plasma B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) level is elevated in cardiac ischemia and may be useful in assessing prognosis in acute coronary syndromes (ACS). This study aimed to: (1) establish BNP levels and its determinants in a healthy Gulf Arab population and in a group of patients with acute myocardial infarction and (2) investigate associations between BNP levels and markers of myocardial damage (ejection fractions, cardiac troponin I [cTnI] levels) and inflammation (serum C-reactive protein [CRP]). We studied 2 groups of Arab subjects: (1) Healthy control (HC), 142 healthy control subjects; (2) Coronary heart disease (CHD), 257 patients with proven acute myocardial infarction within 1 day of admission. Each subject was assessed clinically, and ejection fractions (left ventricular ejection fraction [LVEF]) were determined by echocardiography in those with CHD. Fasting blood samples were processed for full blood counts and serum glucose, urea, creatinine, uric acid, and lipids (total cholesterol [TC], triglycerides [TG], high-density lipoprotein cholesterol [HDL-C], low-density lipoprotein [LDL], and apolipoprotein B [apoB]), cTnI, BNP, and high-sensitivity (hs) CRP levels. The results were compared between groups, and the associations of BNP with other parameters were explored. In comparison to HC, the CHD group had a greater waist-hip ratio (WHR) (P < 0.01), worse atherogenic profile, worse renal function, and higher values for CRP and BNP (all P < 0.001). There were no significant differences in values for BNP related to age, diabetes, hypertension, WHR, and hematocrit, although there was a consistent trend in both HC and CHD groups toward a negative relationship of BNP with body mass, TG, and apoB levels, and a positive relationship with HDL, independent only for HDL and apoB on multiple logistic regression. No correlations could be established with cTnI, CRP, and LVEF. The patterns of cross-correlations did not differ significantly with diabetic status. In an Arab population with CHD, blood levels of BNP are higher than in a healthy control population and appear correlated to body mass and atherogenic lipids but not CRP, troponin, or ejection fraction. BNP levels did not appear to be influenced by the classical CHD risk factors of diabetes, hypertension, cigarette smoking, hematocrit, or WHR. The independent link with atherogenic dyslipidemia suggests that BNP is important in atherogenesis and may not be just an index of cardiac contractile dysfunction.

Prevalence of the metabolic syndrome among female Kuwaiti adolescents using two different criteria

Overweight and obesity are highly prevalent in Kuwait and they are associated with the metabolic syndrome (MS). The present study aims to assess the prevalence of the MS among Kuwaiti female adolescents aged 10-19 years. A cross-sectional random sample of 431, apparently healthy, Kuwaiti female adolescents drawn from several randomly selected schools was studied for the prevalence of the MS using the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and the National Cholesterol Education Program Third Adult Treatment Panel (ATP III) modified for age diagnostic criteria. Clinical assessment included measurements of waist circumference, blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, HDL and TAG. Whichever criteria are used, the prevalence of the MS among female Kuwaiti adolescents was found to be high, which indicates an urgent need for intervention programmes to prevent increased CVD and type 2 diabetes mellitus. The IDF criteria tend to give higher values for the prevalence of the MS in comparison with the modified ATP III criteria (14.8 v. 9.1 %). There have been no diagnostic criteria specific for the MS for the Gulf Arab population as yet.

Postpartum Mental Illness: Perspectives from an Arabian Gulf Population

There is growing awareness of the importance of mental health issues in the perinatal period in Western societies, but very little information is available from Muslim and Arab countries. Qualitative information gathered using focus group discussions of women of childbearing age is presented along with additional information obtained from key informant interviews with grandmothers, husbands, and health care professionals in the United Arab Emirates. The participants were women attending a public sector clinic in Al Ain, Abu Dhabi, and a private clinic in Dubai on a particular day. There were 19 women in the age range 17 to 46 years (M age = 29 yr.). The majority of the women who took part in the study did not recognize postnatal depression as a psychological issue but considered the problems a result of "evil eye" or "Jinn." The present findings suggest the need for initiating awareness programs among women and training of health professionals on the detection and management of postnatal depression.

155: The Relationship Between Blood Pressure, Obesity, Endothelin-1 and Plasma Lipids in a Gulf Arab Population

155: The Relationship Between Blood Pressure, Obesity, Endothelin-1 and Plasma Lipids in a Gulf Arab Population

Circulating levels of endothelin-1 in a homogenous Gulf Arab population with untreated essential hypertension

BACKGROUNDRacial variations are reported in the natural history of hypertension. For example, hypertension is significantly more prevalent in blacks than whites. Endothelial cells are important regulators of vascular tone and homeostasis, in part through secretions of vasoactive substances including endothelin-1 (ET-1), a small peptide with potent vasopressor actions. In black hypertensives, ET-1 levels are higher than in normotensive blacks and in both hypertensive and normotensive whites. Since ET-1 might play a significant role in the development and severity of hypertension in the indigenous Arab population of the United Arab Emirates, we investigated the circulating levels of ET-1 in this homogenous population.PATIENTS AND METHODSET-1 levels were measured in plasma samples from 60 untreated hypertensive Arabs and compared with 60 age- and sex-matched normotensive controls.RESULTSET-1 levels were significantly higher in hypertensives (mean 10.1±1 pmol/L) than normotensives (mean 2.2±0.5 pmol/L). Body mass index (BMI) was slightly higher among the hypertensives. For all subjects these levels significantly (P<0.001) correlated with systolic blood pressure and less significantly (P<0.05) with diastolic blood pressure and body weight. The correlation between ET-1 and both systolic and diastolic blood pressure was persistently significant after adjusting for BMI.CONCLUSIONPlasma concentrations of ET-1 are significantly higher in hypertensive Gulf Arabs as compared with reported levels in white hypertensives and ET-1 could be a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases in this population. The endothelial system might be particularly important with respect to hypertension in this racial group and merits further study.

Apolipoprotein E polymorphism and lipoprotein levels in a Gulf Arab population in Kuwait: a pilot study

BackgroundAPOE polymorphism is believed to confer susceptibility to coronary heart disease (CHD) and Alzheimer’s disease. It is well known that patterns of APOE polymorphisms differ between populations and ethnic groups, although most of the data available so far have been in whites.Subject and MethodsWe evaluated the frequencies of APOE genotypes and their relationships with serum levels of lipids, lipoproteins and apolipoproteins in two groups of Gulf Arab citizens: a control population of healthy voluntary blood donors (n=106), and a group of patients presenting to the lipid clinic for the first time with combined hyperlipidaemia (CH) (n=41). In both groups, fasting serum total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), HDL, LDL and apolipoprotein A1 and B levels were measured by routine autoanalyzer methods, and APOE genotyping was performed by validated PCR methods. The lipid and lipoprotein levels were related to the specific APOE allele frequencies.ResultsAllele frequencies were 5.7% for *E2, 85.4% for *E3, and 9.0% for *E4 in the healthy blood donor group. An essentially similar pattern was seen in the patients with CH. This APOE allelic distribution conforms to patterns described in Chinese, whites and South Asians. In both the blood donor and CH groups there were no consistent links between specific APOE pattern and serum lipoproteins, as would have been predicted from APO*E2 and APO*E4 frequencies.ConclusionsWe conclude that AP0E allelic patterns in healthy Kuwaiti blood donors and a smaller group of patients with CH do not satisfactorily predict circulating blood levels of lipids and lipoproteins.

HLA determinants of susceptibility to multiple sclerosis in an Arabian Gulf population.

An association between HLA antigens and susceptibility to multiple sclerosis (MS) has been established, especially in Caucasian populations. Such associations have not been as clearly defined in many Arab populations, where even the frequencies of specific HLA antigens remain unclear The study was designed to (i) investigate the frequencies of HLA Class I and II antigens in Kuwaiti Arabs with MS, and; (ii) assess possible inter-relationships between HLA Class II antigens and such clinical phenotypic variables in MS as age at onset, gender, disease subtype and scale of disability. HLA Class I (A, B, C) and Class II (DR, DQ) antigens' tissue-typing was performed by the standard complement-dependent microlymphocytotoxicity technique in two groups of age- and sex-matched Kuwaiti subjects: (i) 67 patients with definite MS (48 relapsing remitting, 19 relapsing-progressive) and (ii) 145 unrelated healthy controls. The frequencies of specific HLA types were then compared between patients with controls, and in the former, related to specified clinical parameters. The frequencies for the Class I antigens: A9, A10, A19, A33, B5 and CW4 appeared higher with the presence of MS, although the numbers of positive subjects were rather low. For the Class II antigens, frequencies of DR4, DQ5, DQ6, DQ7 and DQ8 were increased while those for DR6 and DR1 were decreased in the patients with MS. HLA types DR15 and DR4 were present at higher frequencies in patients with a younger age at disease onset; DR15 also appeared more frequent in the female patients. There is a trend towards an association between HLA Class II antigens (DR4, DQ6, DQ7 and DQ8) and MS in Kuwaiti subjects. Additionally, it appeared that DR4 and DR15 were more frequent in females and those with an early onset of the disease. These patterns of HLA Class II determinants of susceptibility to MS differ from reports in some other populations, and may reflect the recognized variability in genetic influence on HLA and disease expression.

Association Between an ANF Gene I/D Dimorphism and Left Ventricular Hypertrophy in a Gulf Arab Population

An association case-controlled study was carried out on a group of 151 United Arab Emirates nationals--62 normotensives with and without left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and 89 hypertensives, also with and without LVH--with a view to evaluating the value of an insertion/deletion (I/D) dimorphism located in the second intron of the human atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) gene in relation to left ventricular hypertrophy. Criteria used for LVH inclusion were: demonstration of Sokoloe and Lyon ECG criteria (sum of S wave in V(1), and tallest R wave in lead V5 or V6 > or =35 mm) and echocardiography findings (interventricular septum > or =1.2 cm; posterior LV wall > or =1.3 cm) in the long axis. ANF gene was obtained according to the usual methods by DNA extraction by means of polymerase chain reactions (PCR). The frequencies of this marker were performed according to the Hardy-Weinberg proportions. Our findings show that there was a significant difference in the distribution of the I and D alleles between the two groups (LVH vs non-LVH), with chi(2) = 12.34, 2df, P=0.002, making this a significant association of the D allele with LVH. Our results do suggest that variants of the ANF gene might be involved in the determination of left ventricular hypertrophy.