Genetic Differences Linked to Blood Pressure in African-Americans

Researchers have discovered variations in certain genes that are linked to blood pressure in African-American patients.

To study the genetic differences between those with hypertension and those without, researchers conduced a multigenerational study and analyzed DNA samples from 1,017 participants who identified themselves as African-Americans.

In people with hypertension, researchers were more likely to find five genetic variants than in those without the condition. The variants were associated with high systolic blood pressure, but not with diastolic blood pressure or combined systolic/diastolic blood pressure.

"This is the first genome-wide association study for hypertension and blood pressure solely focused on a population with majority African ancestry," said Charles Rotimi, PhD, the study's senior author. "Although the effect of each individuals genetic variant was modest, our findings extend the scope of what is know generally about the genetics of human hypertension."

In their study, Dr. Rotimi and colleagues discovered that all five genetic variants associated with blood pressure were actually located in or near genes that code for proteins thought to be biologically important in hypertension and blood pressure.

The study's findings were published in PLoS Genetics (July 17, 2009)