Variant rs6596140 of Follistatin-like 4 Gene (FSTL4) May Be Associated with Poor Response to Angiotensin Receptor Blockers (ARBs) among Filipinos

Abstract

Constituting one of the most commonly used antihypertensive drug families are the angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs). The aim of this study was to identify the variants associated with response to ARBs that may potentially be used as markers for designing a tailor-fit treatment strategy for hypertension. An unmatched case-control study was done among adult hypertensive Filipino patients maintained on ARBs. Genotypic analysis of blood DNA was conducted. Logistic regression analyses were performed to determine association of clinical and genetic variables with ARB response. A total of 69 poor responders and 126 normal responders were included in the study. After performing univariate logistic regression, five single nucleotide polymorphisms showed association with poor response to ARBs. The genetic variant rs6596140 remained significant (dominant model; OR 2.36, p = 0.009) after adjusting for female sex and age. Variant rs6596140 was found to be associated with poor response to ARBs among Filipinos. Prior to clinical application, verification is recommended prior to clinical application. As the function of this variant is presently unknown, an investigation to elucidate its role in ARB response in hypertension is also recommended.