Findings from Athens University provide new insights into heart disease genetics
December 22nd, 2008
2008 DEC 22 -- A new study, 'Candidate gene polymorphisms and the 9p21 locus in acute coronary syndromes,' is now available. According to a study from Glifada, Greece, "It is now widely accepted that the classic environmental risk factors for atherosclerosis only partly explain the incidence of coronary artery disease and the development of acute coronary syndromes. Therefore, genetic factors that vary among human populations seem to be involved in the clinical manifestations of such patients."
"Substantial data suggest that a significant proportion of genetic polymorphisms involved in endothelial function, inflammation, lipid metabolism, thrombosis and fibrinolysis are often present in patients with acute coronary syndromes. In particular, a common variant on chromosome 9p21 was recently identified to affect the risk of myocardial infarction," wrote D. Tousoulis and colleagues, Athens University.
The researchers concluded: "Here, we review the progress of candidate gene studies and genome-wide association studies in identifying the genetic bases of complex cardiovascular diseases such as acute coronary syndromes."
Tousoulis and colleagues published their study in Trends In Molecular Medicine (Candidate gene polymorphisms and the 9p21 locus in acute coronary syndromes. Trends In Molecular Medicine, 2008;14(10):441-9).
For more information, contact D. Tousoulis, Hippokration Hospital, 1st Cardiology Unit, Athens University Medical School, 16675 Glifada, Athens, Greece.
Publisher contact information for the journal Trends In Molecular Medicine is: Elsevier Science Ltd., the Boulevard, Langford Lane, Kidlington, Oxford OX5 1GB, Oxon, England.
