Prediction of the Risk of Myocardial Infarction from Polymorphisms in Candidate Genes

• Published in: The New England journal of medicine Vol. 347; no. 24; pp. 1916 - 1923
• Main Authors: Yamada, Yoshiji, Izawa, Hideo, Ichihara, Sahoko, Takatsu, Fumimaro, Ishihara, Hitoshi, Hirayama, Haruo, Sone, Takahito, Tanaka, Masashi, Yokota, Mitsuhiro
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Boston, MA Massachusetts Medical Society 12.12.2002
• Subjects: Analysis. Health state; Biological and medical sciences; Blood pressure; Cardiovascular disease; Case-Control Studies; Connexins - genetics; Diabetes; DNA Probes; Epidemiology; Female; Gap Junction alpha-4 Protein; General aspects; Genotype; Heart attacks; Humans; Hypertension; Kinases; Logistic Models; Male; Matrix Metalloproteinase 3 - genetics; Medical imaging; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Myocardial Infarction - genetics; Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 - genetics; Polymorphism, Genetic; Public health. Hygiene; Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine; Risk Factors; Asia; Japan; Human; Infarct; Prediction; Cardiovascular disease; Genotype; Coronary heart disease; Myocardial disease; Epidemiology; Plasminogen activator inhibitor 1; Gene; Risk factor; Myocardium; Public health; Polymorphism
• ISSN: 0028-4793; 1533-4406; 1533-4406
• DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa021445

The risk of myocardial infarction is known to be influenced by genetic factors, but few such factors have been identified. This study found that a polymorphism in the connexin 37 gene in men and polymorphisms in the plasminogen-activator inhibitor type 1 gene and the stromelysin-1 gene in women were associated with an increased risk of myocardial infarction. The risk in men was influenced by a polymorphism in the connexin 37 gene. Myocardial infarction is a complex multifactorial and polygenic disorder that is thought to result from an interaction between a person's genetic makeup and various environmental factors. 1 , 2 In general, the incidence of myocardial infarction increases additively as a function of the number of conventional risk factors, including hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and hypercholesterolemia. 2 Although each risk factor itself is partly under genetic control, a family history of myocardial infarction is also an independent predictor, suggesting the existence of additional susceptibility genes for this condition. 1 Furthermore, some patients who have had a myocardial infarction do not have any conventional risk factors, suggesting . . .