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Heart disease genetic link found
Two teams of scientists have identified a genetic flaw which increases the risk of
heart disease and heart attacks.
US and Canadian researchers found that up to one in four white people carries the
section of DNA which increases the risk of heart disease by around 40%.
A separate study in Iceland found the same genetic variant was linked to a fifth of
heart attacks.
Experts said the findings, published in Science, were important but lifestyle factors
had a big impact on risk.
Both teams of researchers scanned the genomes of patients who had coronary heart
disease or who had suffered a heart attack to see if there were any differences between
them and healthy people.
The US/Canadian team found a section of DNA - called an allele - on a specific
chromosome that was associated with heart disease.
Whatever our genetic makeup, we can all reduce our chances of heart disease
by improving our lifestyle
Dr Tim Chico, University of Sheffield
Their study of 23,000 people, showed that those who carried one copy of this allele
have a moderately increased risk of heart disease.
But people who have two copies, which accounts for about 20-25 % of white people,
have a 30 to 40% higher risk of heart disease than individuals who carry no copies.
Professor Ruth McPherson, of the University of Ottawa Heart Institute, who worked
on the study, said: "The effect is less than that of smoking or having a high cholesterol
level.
"Nonetheless, screening healthy people for this genetic marker could provide
information on future risk of heart disease and help identify those individuals who
would benefit most from early applications of strategies to reduce heart disease risk."
The researchers will now check if the findings also apply to people from black and
Asian ethnic minorities.
Lifestyle
The Iceland study looked at the same stretch of DNA in 17,000 people.
They also found that more than 20% of people had two copies of the faulty allele.
People with both copies had a 60% increased risk of heart attack, compared with
those who with no copies.
There have been other gene faults linked to heart attack risk. But having this genetic
variant appears to confer a higher risk, and to be linked to around a third of cases in
men under 50 and women under 60.
Dr Kari Stefansson, who led the research for the Decode genetics company, said if
those at risk were identified, they could be given medications such as statins, or
cardiac procedures - as well as healthy living advice - to reduce their risk.
It is still unclear why this particular area of the genome is linked to heart disease.
Trying to find genes that put some families at an increased risk of heart attacks
is like trying to find a collection of needles scattered amongst a field full of hay
stacks
Professor Peter Weissberg, British Heart Foundation
However, researchers believe it may be associated with hardening and narrowing of
the arteries.
Professor Peter Weissberg, medical director of the British Heart Foundation, said:
"Trying to find genes that put some families at an increased risk of heart attacks is
like trying to find a collection of needles scattered amongst a field full of hay-stacks.
"The significance of these two studies is that two independent research teams have
homed in on the same hay-stack.
"This makes it very likely that they are close to identifying a needle - an important
gene in that region."
He added: "This will take a lot more research and - once found - the gene will be only
one of several that are important. This research represents an important step along a
very long journey, but a step in the right direction."
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/health/6615237.stm
Published: 2007/05/03 18:23:07 GMT
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