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Published on: May 5, 2018
Genetics and cardiovascular disease
Ronald T Acton1, Rodney C P Go, Jeffrey M Roseman
1Department of Microbiology, Immunogenetics Program, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Alabama 35294-0005, USA. acton@uab.edu
Insights
Assessing family history and genetic factors is crucial for understanding cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. Genetic profiling aids in prognosis, prevention, and targeted treatments for CVD.
Area of Science:
- Genetics and Cardiovascular Health
Background:
- Cardiovascular disease (CVD) arises from complex interactions between genetic, lifestyle, and environmental factors.
- Family history of CVD is a valuable indicator of shared genetic, environmental, and lifestyle influences, aiding in risk assessment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the importance of family history in estimating cardiovascular disease risk.
- To present methods for identifying genetic variants involved in CVD etiology, including the candidate gene approach.
- To discuss the role of genetic profiling in CVD prognosis, prevention, and treatment.
Main Methods:
- Reviewing the utility of family history assessment for cardiovascular disease risk.
- Presenting the candidate gene approach for identifying genetic risk factors in coronary heart disease.
- Discussing the application of genetic profiling for personalized cardiovascular medicine.
Main Results:
- Family history provides significant insights into an individual's predisposition to cardiovascular disease.
- The candidate gene approach has been employed to identify specific genetic risk factors for coronary heart disease.
- Genetic profiling offers potential for predicting prognosis, tailoring preventive measures, and optimizing drug selection for CVD.
Conclusions:
- Integrating family history and genetic information is essential for comprehensive cardiovascular disease risk assessment.
- Genetic profiling holds promise for advancing personalized strategies in cardiovascular disease prevention and treatment.
- Further exploration of genetic factors and novel approaches is necessary for a deeper understanding of complex cardiovascular diseases.
Abstract:
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a designation for multiple clinical phenotypes that result from the interaction of genetic variants, lifestyle choices, and environmental exposures. This article points to the utility of assessing a person's family history of CVD, which is the sum of genetic factors, environment and common lifestyle influences, which may be shared among family members and provides information useful for estimating risk for CVD. It also presents several approaches utilized in attempts to identify variants in genes that are involved in the etiology of CVD. Specifically, examples of the candidate gene approach to identify genetic risk factors for coronary heart disease from our own research are presented. The utilization of genetic profiling to predict an individual's long-term prognosis, to target preventive strategies, and to select the most efficacious drug for treatment are discussed, as well as, the need to consider newer approaches to understanding complex diseases.
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