Association Between rs243866 Polymorphism of the MMP-2 Gene and Target Organ Damage in Patients with Uncontrolled Hypertension

Background: Uncontrolled hypertension (UHT) is associated with an increased risk of target organ damage (TOD). Matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) plays a role in vascular remodeling, and the rs243866 (-1575G/A) polymorphism has been implicated in cardiovascular diseases. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the association between rs243866 and TOD in UHT patients. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 134 UHT patients at two hospitals in Vietnam. Genotyping of rs243866 was performed using PCR, and TOD was assessed via echocardiography (left ventricular hypertrophy - LVH), renal function tests (eGFR, albuminuria), and carotid ultrasound (carotid atherosclerosis). Results: The genotypic distribution was GG (79.9%), GA (18.6%), and AA (1.5%), with allele frequencies of 89.2% (G) and 10.8% (A). The A allele was associated with higher risks of LVH (OR=2.553, 95% CI: 1.052-6.196, p=0.035), CKD (OR=2.639, 95% CI: 0.986-7.066, p=0.048), and carotid atherosclerosis (OR=6.806, 95% CI: 2.203-21.024, p<0.001). These associations remained significant after adjusting for confounders. Conclusion: The rs243866 polymorphism of MMP-2 is independently associated with TOD in UHT, particularly LVH, CKD, and carotid atherosclerosis. Genetic screening for rs243866 may provide insights into risk stratification and personalized hypertension management.