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. 2009 Feb;10(2):213-23.
doi: 10.2217/14622416.10.2.213.

Genome-wide association studies of coronary artery disease and heart failure: where are we going?

Gerald W Dorn  1 , Sharon Cresci
Affiliations

Genome-wide association studies of coronary artery disease and heart failure: where are we going?

Gerald W Dorn et al. Pharmacogenomics. 2009 Feb.

Abstract

The heart diseases that account for a large amount of morbidity and mortality in the developed world (coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction and heart failure) are phenotypically heterogeneous disorders. It has been suspected for many years that genetics may have an important role in these diseases and their poor outcome. However, their complex and likely polygenic pathophysiology has confounded clear understanding of the genetic contribution to their etiology. Despite technological progress and great promise associated with genome-wide association studies, to date the results of their application to coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction and heart failure have yielded limited insights into these common diseases. This review discusses the current status of genome-wide association studies as they have been applied to these cohorts. The potential limitations of these studies, as well as potential future directions for identifying important genes are also discussed.

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Conflict of interest statement

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Multiplicative modifying factors (light gray boxes) affecting the pathophysiologic cascade of coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction and heart failure.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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