title: Genetic epidemiology and genome-wide linkage analysis of carotid artery ultrasound traits in multigenerational African ancestry families.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Intima-media thickness, adventitial diameter and lumen diameter are indicators of cardiovascular disease risk. The influence of genetic factors on these measures in African ancestry populations is not well defined. Therefore, we estimated heritability and performed genome-wide linkage analysis of carotid ultrasound traits in 7 multigenerational families of African ancestry.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 395 individuals (7 pedigrees; mean family size = 56; 2392 relative pairs) aged ≥18 years had a common carotid artery ultrasound scan. Statistical analyses were conducted using pedigree-based maximum likelihood methods.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant covariates included age, sex, body mass index or height and waist, and systolic blood pressure. Residual heritabilities ranged from 0.35 ± 0.10 to 0.64 ± 0.12 (P < 0.0001). We identified a novel quantitative trait locus for adventitial and lumen diameters on chromosome 11 (max LOD = 4.09, 133 cm).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Further fine mapping of this region may identify specific mutations predisposing to subclinical vascular disease among African ancestry individuals.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, University of Pittsburgh, 130 DeSoto Street, A521 Crabtree Hall, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA. Electronic address: kuipers@pitt.edu.
authors.forename: Allison L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Kuipers
authors.forename: Candace M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Kammerer
authors.forename: Iva
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Miljkovic
authors.forename: Genevieve A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Woodard
authors.forename: Clareann H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Bunker
authors.forename: Alan L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Patrick
authors.forename: Victor W
authors.initials: VW
authors.lastname: Wheeler
authors.forename: Anne B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Newman
authors.forename: Joseph M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Zmuda
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D063194:Adventitia / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D044383:Black People / Q000235:genetics*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics; D017536:Carotid Artery, Common / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; D002880:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 11 / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D008040:Genetic Linkage; D006801:Humans; D016013:Likelihood Functions; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology; D010375:Pedigree; D040641:Quantitative Trait Loci; D014300:Trinidad and Tobago / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: African ancestry; Arterial diameter; Carotid ultrasound; Genome-wide linkage; Intima-media thickness