Introduction To study the relationship between the T663A polymorphism in αENaC gene with essential hypertension (EH) and serum electrolytes of Xinjiang Kazakhs.

Methods 516 Xinjiang Kazakhs aged elder than 30 years were recruited in this population based on case-control study from the patural area of Xinjiang, and were divided into hypertensives (EH group) and normotensives (NT group). The gene polymorphism of T663A by PCR-RFLP and the serum electrolytes were examined.

Results The frequencies of AA, AG, GG genotypes were 15.7%, 50.2%, 34.1% and the frequencies of alleles A, G were 40.8%, 59.2%, respectively. The frequencies of AA, AG, GG were 16.3%, 49.1%, 34.6% in EH group and 15.1%, 51.4%, 33.5% in NT group, respectively. The distribution of genotypic and allelic frequencies were not different between EH group and NT group (p=0.85; p=1.0). No significant difference in levels of blood pressure and K⁺, Na⁺/K⁺ between subjects among genotypes. The T663A polymorphism were excluded as independent variables controlling age and BMI. But the serum Na⁺ of the subjects with AA genotype was higher than those subjects with AG and GG genotypes (p=0.032).

Conclusions T663A polymorphism might not be associated with EH but the AA genotype of T663A polymorphisms might be associated with the higher level of the serum Na⁺ of Xinjiang Kazakhs.