Genetic Markers Linked to Heart Attacks

An international team of researchers has found that people who have specific genetic markers on a region of chromosome 14 have a predisposition to develop coronary artery disease and/or heart attacks. The team was led by researchers at the Medical College of Wisconsin (Milwaukee, USA), and the findings were published in the February 2002 issue of Nature Genetics.

The study, which began six years ago, is based on a family history and genetic analysis of blood samples from 513 families of western European descent in Germany. At least two members of every family had heart attacks at or before age 59 and/or severe, premature coronary artery disease. In all, the study involved 1,406 individuals. From the analysis, the researchers were able to link the presence of genetic markers with heart problems. The region identified on chromosome 14 contains about 150 genes. Studies are now under way to identify precisely which of those genes are involved in heart attacks. Future research will also seek to understand the functions of those genes and to develop individualized therapies for better prevention of heart disease.

The link between the identified region and heart attacks is distinct from other risk factors. "This locus on chromosome 14 characterizes something you need in addition to diabetes, or hypertension, or high cholesterol,” said Ulrich Broeckel, M.D., assistant professor of cardiovascular medicine at the Medical College.





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Medical College of Wisconsin