title: Candidate gene polymorphisms and the 9p21 locus in acute coronary syndromes.
abstract: It is now widely accepted that the classic environmental risk factors for atherosclerosis only partly explain the incidence of coronary artery disease and the development of acute coronary syndromes. Therefore, genetic factors that vary among human populations seem to be involved in the clinical manifestations of such patients. Substantial data suggest that a significant proportion of genetic polymorphisms involved in endothelial function, inflammation, lipid metabolism, thrombosis and fibrinolysis are often present in patients with acute coronary syndromes. In particular, a common variant on chromosome 9p21 was recently identified to affect the risk of myocardial infarction. Here, we review the progress of candidate gene studies and genome-wide association studies in identifying the genetic bases of complex cardiovascular diseases such as acute coronary syndromes.
authors.affiliation: 1st Cardiology Unit, Hippokration Hospital, Athens University Medical School, 16675 Glifada, Athens, Greece. drtousoulis@hotmial.com
authors.forename: Dimitris
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tousoulis
authors.forename: Alexandros
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Briasoulis
authors.forename: Nikos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Papageorgiou
authors.forename: Charalambos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Antoniades
authors.forename: Christodoulos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Stefanadis
mesh_terms: D054058:Acute Coronary Syndrome / Q000235:genetics*; D002899:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 9 / Q000235:genetics*; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics*; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000235:genetics; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D012307:Risk Factors