Genes for mitochondria in arterial hypertension and left ventricular hypertrophy

Polymorphic markers were studied in mitochondrial DNA and the nuclear POLG1 gene, coding for mitochondrial DNA polymerase gamma. Their frequencies were compared between healthy individuals and patients with arterial hypertension, as well as between patients with and without left ventricular hypertrophy. The healthy group was found not to be clearly dominated by the C allele of MspI polymorphism in POLG1. Mitochondrial haplogroup H was more frequent (OR = 0.42; 95%CI 0.17-0.98; p = 0.043) in patients without left ventricular hypertrophy than in patients having this complication. Haplogroup T was more often detected in patients with left ventricular hypertrophy (OR = 6.16; 95%CI 1.17-9.74; p = 0.018). This result suggests the implication of mitochondrial DNA in hereditary susceptibility to cardiovascular diseases.