- Researchers looked into the genetics behind Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection (SCAD), a condition that can be life threatening.
- Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection can lead to heart attacks, particularly in women under the age of 60.
- The condition can occur with no warning and often affects people who are otherwise healthy, making it difficult to detect early.
- The scientists conducted a genome-wide association meta-analysis and found 16 gene variants associated with an increased risk of developing the condition.
Researchers from the United Kingdom, France, Australia, Canada, and United States collaborated to study if there are genetic factors that contribute to someone developing Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection (SCAD). Since SCAD can be life-threatening and difficult to predict, scientists want to learn more about what causes it.
The study, published in
This research into the genetic factors of SCAD has the potential to lead to preventive strategies.
The researchers performed
They compared a group of 1,917 people with SCAD to a control group of 9,292 people. The researchers included patients with SCAD that had similar clinical characteristics and met diagnostic criteria.
To search for genes associated with SCAD, the researchers performed a particular type of analysis called genome wide association study. The researchers looked at genes likely involved in some of the issues that can contribute to SCAD. They analyzed genes likely “regulated in vascular smooth muscle cells,” as well as genes involved in blood coagulation.
This is significant because blood coagulation, or blood clotting, prevents an injured vessel from bleeding profusely. An injured blood vessel can lead to a heart attack in SCAD.
The research…
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