These results highlight the importance of genetic determinants of ACE levels as good predictors of the ACEi response, and provide ABO as a good candidate gene for pharmacogenetic studies of ACEi-related cough. Moreover, our results also confirm the importance of bradykinin in the pathogenesis of this adverse effect.

The objective of this study was to establish whether genetic polymorphisms that could be related to angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) levels are associated with hypertension. A total of 10 haplotype-tagging single-nucleotide polymorphisms in ACE, the ACE I/D polymorphism, and 2 polymorphisms in the ABO (rs495828 and rs8176746) were investigated for association with hypertension in 269 hypertensive patients and 254 healthy controls. All analyses were adjusted for age and body mass index, and corrected for multiple testing. Only one polymorphism of the ABO gene (rs495828) presented nominal pointwise Po0.05 values (odds ratio¼0.33, 95% CI 0.19-0.58, P¼6Â10 À5 ) and achieved Po3.8Â10 À3 , the nominal P-value considered significant after Bonferroni correction. Analysis of the genotype frequencies showed that the model that correctly explained the observed association was the recessive model (odds ratio¼0.03, 95% CI 0.01-0.15, P¼1Â10 À6 ). These results indicate that genetic variants that could be related to ACE activity are good predictors of hypertension, and identify ABO as a good candidate gene for genetic studies of hypertension risk. Further studies are required to confirm this association.

Background Few studies assess the use of non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) in daily practice for the prevention of thromboembolic complications associated to nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (AF). Objectives Describe NOACs' use and analyze its prescribing pattern. Evaluate possible factors associated to adverse events (AEs) and the applicability of prescription support forms. Methods We included patients with AF treated with a NOAC during 2014 in three primary healthcare centers in Barcelona, Spain. Demographic and clinical data was collected, as well as embolic and bleeding risk and reported AEs. Results A total of 101 patients were included, with a median age of 75 years. The NOACs most frequently prescribed were dabigatran and rivaroxaban. An 87.2% of the patients were receiving the recommended dosage. A potential bleeding risk was present in 47% of the subjects. Ten AEs were reported, of which eight hemorrhages. Patients who presented an AE were >65 years and had a higher proportion of concomitant treatment and/or co-morbidities that could prompt to bleeding (p < 0.001). Conclusions Current treatment practice is according to regulatory agencies' recommendations. Close monitoring is especially needed in patients >65 years and at higher risk of bleeding. Prescription support forms help good prescribing and identifying potential individuals at high risk of AEs.