ABSTRACT
Preeclampsia is known to be a multifactorial disease. Recently, the angiotensinogen
gene has been shown to be a candidate gene that could be related to preeclampsia,
and acquired factors such as lifestyle during pregnancy have also been considered
to be risk factors. The aim of this study was to investigate the interrelations among
the angiotensinogen gene and various acquired risk factors in preeclampsia. Fifty-eight
primiparous patients with preeclampsia were compared with 164 normal primiparous controls.
A variant of the angiotensinogen gene (M235T) was analyzed along with the acquired
factors obtained from both medical records and a questionnaire consisting of 98 questions.
Univariate analysis disclosed 11 factors that were significantly associated with preeclampsia
(P < .05). Multivariate analysis revealed four significant independent factors: ``prepregnancy
high body mass (body mass index ≥ 24),'' ``T235 homozygotes of the angiotensinogen
gene,'' ``mentally stressful condition during pregnancy,'' and ``salty dishes preferred
during pregnancy.'' The odds ratios of the four factors were 6.2, 2.5, 3.0 and 2.6,
respectively, in a multiple logistic model. Our results support the concept that T235
of the angiotensinogen gene is a potent, independent risk factor for preeclampsia,
as well as other lifestyle-related risk factors.
KEYWORD
Preeclampsia - multivariate analysis - lifestyle - angiotensinogen - polymorphism