Key result
Higher CAC genetic risk score is linked to greater aortic and carotid calcification volumes.
Why the study?
It is unclear whether genetic risk factors for coronary artery calcification and serum lipid levels relate to atherosclerosis in other vessel beds such as the aortic arch and carotid arteries.
Do genetic loci for coronary artery calcification and serum lipids relate to calcification volumes in the aortic arch and carotid arteries?
Observational (n=1,987)
Do genetic loci for coronary artery calcification and serum lipids relate to calcification volumes in the aortic arch and carotid arteries?
Mean Difference: 0.15 (95% CI 0.11–0.2)
Genetic loci associated with coronary artery calcification and serum lipids are also associated with calcification in the aortic arch and carotid arteries, suggesting a shared genetic predisposition for atherosclerosis across different vessel beds.
Genetic risk scores for coronary calcification associate with aortic/carotid calcification; extends evidence for shared genetic predisposition across beds.
BACKGROUND: Atherosclerosis in different vessel beds shares lifestyle and environmental risk factors. It is unclear whether this holds for genetic risk factors. Hence, for the current study genetic loci for coronary artery calcification and serum lipid levels, one of the strongest risk factors for atherosclerosis, were used to assess their relation with atherosclerosis in different vessel beds. METHODS AND RESULTS: From 1987 persons of the population-based Rotterdam Study, 3 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) for coronary artery calcification and 132 SNPs for total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol or triglycerides were used. To quantify atherosclerotic calcification as a marker of atherosclerosis, all participants underwent nonenhanced computed tomography of the aortic arch and carotid arteries. Associations between genetic risk scores of the joint effect of the SNPs and of all calcification were investigated. The joint effect of coronary artery calcification-SNPs was associated with larger calcification volumes in all vessel beds (difference in calcification volume per SD increase in genetic risk score: 0.15 [95% confidence interval, 0.11-0.20] in aorta, 0.14 [95% confidence interval, 0.10-0.18] in extracranial carotids, and 0.11 [95% confidence interval, 0.07-0.16] in intracranial carotids). The joint effect of total cholesterol SNPs, low-density lipoprotein SNPs, and of all lipid SNPs together was associated with larger calcification volumes in both the aortic arch and the carotid arteries but attenuated after adjusting for the lipid fraction and lipid-lowering medication. CONCLUSIONS: The genetic basis for aortic arch and carotid artery calcification overlaps with the most important loci of coronary artery calcification. Furthermore, serum lipids share a genetic predisposition with both calcification in the aortic arch and the carotid arteries, providing novel insights into the cause of atherosclerosis.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Bos et al. (2012) conducted an observational in Atherosclerosis (n=1,987). Genetic risk scores for coronary artery calcification and serum lipids was evaluated on Calcification volume in the aorta (Difference 0.15, 95% CI 0.11-0.20). A higher genetic risk score for coronary artery calcification was associated with larger calcification volumes in the aorta (difference per SD increase 0.15; 95% CI 0.11-0.20) and carotid arteries.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: