Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Gene Polymorphism May Influence Blood Loss in a Geriatric Population Undergoing Total Hip Arthroplasty

Pola, Enrico MD
Gaetani, Eleonora MD
Pola, Roberto MD, PhD
Papaleo, Pierangelo MD
Flex, Andrea MD
Aloi, Francesco BS
De Santis, Vincenzo MD
Santoliquido, Angelo MD
Pola, Paolo MD

^*Department of Orthopedics, A. Gemelli University Hospital, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, School of Medicine, Rome, Italy
^†Laboratory of Vascular Biology and Genetics, A. Gemelli University Hospital, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, School of Medicine, Rome, Italy
^‡Department of Angiology and Internal Medicine, A. Gemelli University Hospital, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, School of Medicine, Rome, Italy
^§Department of Geriatric Science, A. Gemelli University Hospital, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, School of Medicine, Rome, Italy.

Address correspondence to Eleonora Gaetani, MD, Istituto di Patologia Speciale Medica, Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, 6th Floor, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, L.go A. Gemelli 8, 00168 Rome, Italy. E-mail: [email protected]

Journal of the American Geriatrics Society 50(12):p 2025-2028, December 2002.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate how angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene polymorphism is associated with perioperative blood loss in hip arthroplasty in a geriatric population.

DESIGN

A case-control study of subjects consecutively undergoing total hip arthroplasty.

SETTING

A department of orthopedic surgery in Italy.

PARTICIPANTS

One hundred five patients, mean age ± standard deviation 68.6 ± 10.4, undergoing total hip arthroplasty.

MEASUREMENTS

ACE gene polymorphism was analyzed using polymerase chain reaction. Decrement of hemoglobin (Hb) and hematocrit (Ht) was calculated as the difference between the preoperative and the lowest postoperative value, measured 1, 2, and 3 days after surgery. Total blood loss was calculated as the sum of intra- and postoperative blood loss.

RESULTS

Patients carrying the deletion homozygous and insertion/deletion heterozygous genotypes of the ACE gene show a higher decrement of Hb (P <.01) and Ht (P <.01) and higher total blood loss (P <.007) after hip surgery than subjects carrying the insertion (II) homozygous. The role of ACE gene polymorphism seems hypertension independent. Logistic regression analysis showed that II genotype reduces total blood loss.

CONCLUSIONS

This is the largest study evaluating the distribution of ACE gene genotypes in patients undergoing hip arthroplasty and the first investigating the association between bleeding and ACE gene polymorphism. Our data suggest that II genotype is associated with lower total blood loss.