Causal relationship between atherosclerosis and inflammatory bowel disease risk: a two-sample Mendelian randomization...

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Science
• Gastroenterology
• Genetics

Background:

• Atherosclerosis and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) share common risk factors.
• Understanding the causal relationship between atherosclerosis and IBD is crucial for etiology and treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the causal associations between various atherosclerosis traits and the risk of IBD, including its subtypes (Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis).
• Utilize a two-sample Mendelian randomization study design for robust causal inference.

Main Methods:

• Employed Mendelian randomization using single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with atherosclerosis phenotypes from genome-wide association studies (GWAS).
• Inverse-variance weighted (IVW) method was the primary analysis for causal effect estimation.
• Sensitivity analyses, including leave-one-out, were performed to ensure result validity.

Main Results:

• Coronary atherosclerosis showed a significant causal association with an increased risk of Crohn's disease (CD).
• Ischemic stroke (IS) was causally associated with increased risks of both CD and ulcerative colitis (UC).
• Sensitivity analyses confirmed the robustness of these associations.

Conclusions:

• Coronary atherosclerosis is a causal risk factor for Crohn's disease.
• Ischemic stroke is causally linked to both Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.
• These findings contribute to understanding the underlying etiology of IBD and may inform future research directions.