Nitric oxide synthase and endothelin-1 gene polymorphism in lower limb chronic venous insufficiency

Objective of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of endothelin-1 (EDN1 Lys198Asn) and nitric oxide synthase (NOS3 C786T) gene polymorphism in patients with lower limb chronic venous insufficiency; a possible correlation between gene polymorphism and degree of chronic venous insufficiency was also considered. The study included 240 patients with lower limb chronic venous insufficiency. The main group included 160 patients with venous ulcers; control group included 80 patients without ulceration. Peripheral venous blood samples were taken for DNA evaluation. EDN1 Lys198Asn mutation for endothelin-1 and NOS3 C786T mutation for nitric oxide synthase were studied. Detection of polymorphism in genes, which determine the development of endothelial dysfunction in lower limb chronic venous insufficiency, represents a useful tool to predict the severity of the disease and its outcomes.