The M235T polymorphism in the angiotensinogen gene and heart failure: a meta-analysis.

Background: The aim of the present study was to assess the association between M235T polymorphism and heart failure using a meta-analysis. Methods: A literature search of Google Scholar, PubMed, the Cochrane Library and the China National Knowledge Infrastructure database (January 1990-April 2012) was performed for relevant studies. Statistical analyses were carried out using the Stata 12.0 to combine all the relevant studies. Summary odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were calculated in a fixed-effects model and a random-effects model when appropriate. The pooled ORs were performed under the allelic contrast (T vs M), the dominant (TT + MT vs. MM) and the recessive models (TT vs MT + MM). Begg's test was used to measure publication bias. Results: A total of six case-control studies including 842 patients and 1054 controls were enrolled in this meta-analysis. Overall, there was a significant association between angiotensinogen (AGT) gene M235T polymorphism and risk of heart failure in the subgroup analysis under the allelic contrast (T vs M: OR = 1.48, 95% CI: 1.04-2.11) and the dominant model (TT+MT vs MM: OR=1.67, 95% CI: 1.13-2.46) in the Caucasian population. Conclusions: The current meta-analysis suggests that M235T polymorphism might be associated with increased risk of heart failure in Caucasians.