target organ damages as measured by left-ventricular hypertrophy/left-ventricular mass index, carotid intima–media thickness, common carotid diameter, carotid–femoral pulse wave velocity, brachial–ankle pulse wave velocity, retinopathy, albumin/creatinine ratio, glomerular filtration rate, and 24 h proteinuria; and 2. The gene discussed is ALB; the disease is left ventricular hypertrophy.