Gene linked to higher stroke and heart attack risk
5 July BBC
Researchers have identified a gene that may put people at greater
risk of strokes and heart attacks.
Writing in PLOS ONE they say the gene fault may encourage the
formation of blood clots the ultimate cause of most heart attacks and
strokes.Scientists hope gene tests may help doctors one day to pinpoint
individuals more likely to suffer these conditions.
But experts say lifestyle factors such as smoking and exercise have
the greatest influence on risk.Around one in 10 people in the Caucasian
population carries this variation of the gene, named PIA2.And
researchers from King's College London reviewed more than 80 studies
involving about 50,000 people the largest analysis of this genetic fault
to date.
They found individuals with PIA2 were more likely to have a stroke -
caused by a blood clot blocking blood supply to the brain - than those
without the gene.
Scientists calculate the gene increases a person's risk of having a
stroke by 10-15%.But how significant this increase is depends on an
individual's baseline risk influenced by factors such as smoking, diet,
weight and exercise, the scientists say.
And for people with two copies of the gene the risk rises by up to
70% from this baseline.In a second study published in the same journal,
the scientists show PIA2 is also linked to an increased risk of heart
attacks in people under 45.
More research is needed to see whether this holds true for the whole
population, they say.About 150,000 people have a stroke in the UK each
year and more than 100,000 heart attacks are recorded annually.Both
thrombotic strokes (the most common kind) and heart attacks are caused
by blockage of blood vessels in the heart and brain - ultimately through
the formation of clots.The faulty gene appears to affect a protein
called glycoprotein IIIa present on platelets, natural clotting cells in
the blood.
Platelets help trigger the formation of clots to stop bleeding after
injury. But scientists say carrying the gene may render them
overactive.They caution that overall the genes play a smaller role in
risk than more established factors, such as high blood pressure and
obesity.
But developing a genetic test could help predict people at highest
risk, allowing doctors to suggest more potent medication or lifestyle
changes, they say.
Prof Albert Ferro, of King's College London, who led the research,
told the BBC: "We would now need to validate this test and see how
useful it is in the clinical world." Dr Shamim Quadir, of the Stroke
Association, said: "These latest results are an important step forward
in stroke research.We hope the findings from this study could lead to
many more people who are most at risk of this devastating condition
being identified.
However, if you have a family history of stroke or have any other
risk factors, this does not mean the condition is inevitable. Regular
exercise, eating a balanced diet and stopping smoking can be important
steps to significantly reduce your stroke risk."
Prof Jeremy Pearson, of the British Heart Foundation, said: "It is as
yet uncertain whether a genetic test to detect a variation in this
protein would be beneficial for patients in everyday practice.
All patients who are at risk should be monitored to see whether or
not lifestyle changes or medication have a positive impact on the more
standard major risk factors such as high blood pressure and high
cholesterol. |