OBJECTIVE: Excess glucocorticoids are known to cause @entity101 and @entity65 ( @entity65 ). The BclI @entity4738 ( @entity4738 ) polymorphism increases glucocorticoid sensitivity and is associated with adverse metabolic effects. Previous studies investigating cardiovascular implications have shown inconsistent results. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the association of the BclI polymorphism with blood pressure, @entity731 , low-grade @entity32 , @entity409 , and prevalent @entity65 . DESIGN: Observational cohort study, combining two cohort studies designed to investigate genetic and metabolic determinants of @entity65 . METHODS: We genotyped 1228 individuals (aged 64.7 years  8.5) from the Cohort on @entity6 and @entity731 Maastricht (CODAM) study and Hoorn study for the BclI polymorphism. We measured blood pressure, ankle-brachial index (ABI), and carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT). Low-grade @entity32 and @entity409 scores were computed by averaging Z-scores of six low-grade @entity32 markers and four @entity409 markers respectively. Prevalent @entity65 was assessed with questionnaires, hospital records, ECG, and ABI. RESULTS: Homozygous carriers (GG) had higher mean arterial pressure (103.8  12.4 mmHg vs 101.6  12.2 mmHg (mean  S.D.); P<0.05) compared with non-carriers (CC). Homozygous carriers had lower ABI compared with heterozygous carriers (CG) (1.08  0.13 vs 1.11  0.14; P<0.05). After adjustment for all covariates in the full model, the association with ABI was no longer significant. BclI was not associated with systolic blood pressure, cIMT, low-grade @entity32 , @entity409 , and prevalent @entity65 . CONCLUSIONS: The BclI polymorphism of the @entity4738 gene may contribute to an unfavorable cardiovascular profile; however, the effects on cardiovascular variables appear to be limited and partly mediated by the metabolic phenotype exerted by BclI.

BclI XXXX polymorphism in relation to cardiovascular variables: the Hoorn and CODAM studies.

@entity32 :: ('MESH:D007249', 'Disease') :: ['inflammation'] @entity4738 :: ('2908', 'Gene') :: ['glucocorticoid receptor', 'GR'] @entity101 :: ('MESH:D006973', 'Disease') :: ['hypertension'] @entity6 :: ('MESH:D003920', 'Disease') :: ['Diabetes'] @entity409 :: ('MESH:D008107', 'Disease') :: ['endothelial dysfunction'] @entity731 :: ('MESH:D050197', 'Disease') :: ['atherosclerosis', 'Atherosclerosis'] @entity65 :: ('MESH:D002318', 'Disease') :: ['CVD', 'cardiovascular disease']
@entity4738 :: (2908,Gene) :: ['glucocorticoid receptor']
