Scientists at the Cleveland Clinic say that they have discovered the first gene to be definitely identified as a cause of heart attack. Eric Topol and colleagues discovered that members of an Iowa family who possess a specific mutation of the gene MEF2A have a 100% chance of having a heart attack or developing coronary artery disease. Topol said of the findings: “For them, it’s not a matter of ‘if,’ it is a matter of ‘when.’ For that reason, we think this specific mutation will prove to be rare. Most genes that will be discovered to induce heart attack will be more common and not carry as high a risk.” The mutation appears to affect the walls of the coronary arteries, rendering them less able to protect themselves from the build-up of fatty plaques, and thus heart disease. The researchers say that it unlikely that other families will be found to have the exact same mutation, and that other mutations involving the MEF2A may have a less dramatic effect.
SOURCE/REFERENCE: Science Nov 28 2003: 1578-1581.
