Rationale, Design, and Methodological Aspects of the BUDAPEST-GLOBAL Study (Burden of Atherosclerotic Plaques Study in Twins-Genetic Loci and the Burden of Atherosclerotic Lesions).
The heritability of coronary atherosclerotic plaque burden, coronary geometry, and phenotypes associated with increased cardiometabolic risk are largely unknown. The primary aim of the Burden of Atherosclerotic Plaques Study in Twins-Genetic Loci and the Burden of Atherosclerotic Lesions (BUDAPEST-GLOBAL) study is to evaluate the influence of genetic and environmental factors on the burden of coronary artery disease. By design this is a prospective, single-center, classical twin study. In total, 202 twins (61 monozygotic pairs, 40 dizygotic same-sex pairs) were enrolled from the Hungarian Twin Registry database. All twins underwent non-contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) for the detection and quantification of coronary artery calcium and for the measurement of epicardial fat volumes. In addition, a single non-contrast-enhanced image slice was acquired at the level of L3-L4 to assess abdominal fat distribution. Coronary CT angiography was used for the detection and quantification of plaque, stenosis, and overall coronary artery disease burden. For the primary analysis, we will assess the presence and volume of atherosclerotic plaques. Furthermore, the 3-dimensional coronary geometry will be assessed based on the coronary CT angiography datasets. Additional phenotypic analyses will include per-patient epicardial and abdominal fat quantity measurements. Measurements obtained from monozygotic and dizygotic twin pairs will be compared to evaluate the genetic or environmental effects of the given phenotype. The BUDAPEST-GLOBAL study provides a unique framework to shed some light on the genetic and environmental influences of cardiometabolic disorders.
MTA-SE Cardiovascular Imaging Research Group, Heart and Vascular Center, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.
Pál
http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0885-736X
P
Maurovich-Horvat
Department of Radiology and Oncotherapy, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.
Dávid L
DL
Tárnoki
Department of Radiology and Oncotherapy, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.
Ádám D
ÁD
Tárnoki
Department of Hydrodynamic Systems, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Budapest, Hungary.
Tamás
http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3038-8643
T
Horváth
MTA-SE Cardiovascular Imaging Research Group, Heart and Vascular Center, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.
Ádám L
ÁL
Jermendy
MTA-SE Cardiovascular Imaging Research Group, Heart and Vascular Center, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.
Márton
M
Kolossváry
MTA-SE Cardiovascular Imaging Research Group, Heart and Vascular Center, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.
Bálint
B
Szilveszter
Scientific Affairs, Global Institute for Research, LLC, Richmond, Virginia.
Viktor
V
Voros
MTA-SE Cardiovascular Imaging Research Group, Heart and Vascular Center, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.
Attila
A
Kovács
Department of Cardiology, Military Hospital, Budapest, Hungary.
Andrea Á
AÁ
Molnár
Department of Political Science, Central European University, Budapest, Hungary.
Levente
L
Littvay
Department of Radiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.
Hildo J
HJ
Lamb
Scientific Affairs, Global Institute for Research, LLC, Richmond, Virginia.
Szilard
S
Voros
Department of Internal Medicine, Bajcsy-Zsilinszky Hospital, Budapest, Hungary.
György
G
Jermendy
MTA-SE Cardiovascular Imaging Research Group, Heart and Vascular Center, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.
Béla
B
Merkely
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017023:Coronary Angiography / Q000379:methods; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics*; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000473:pathology; D004200:Diseases in Twins / Q000235:genetics*; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D059647:Gene-Environment Interaction; D056426:Genetic Loci; D006801:Humans; D006814:Hungary; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D058226:Plaque, Atherosclerotic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012042:Registries; D012107:Research Design; D012307:Risk Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods; D014429:Twins, Dizygotic / Q000235:genetics; D014430:Twins, Monozygotic / Q000235:genetics