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Cardiogenetic Panel

What is the cardiogenetics panel?

The cardiogenetics panel is used to identify specific regions of your genetic profile associated with an increased risk for cardiovascular disease. By analyzing the DNA of these regions, we are able to identify variants associated with this risk.

Variants are alternate sequences that differ from the normal DNA sequence. Carrying a risk variant does not mean you will necessarily suffer from cardiovascular disease; it means your risk is increased compared to someone who carries no copies of the risk variant. The results of this test can be used by healthcare professionals to create a treatment plan to complement your genetic risk factors.


What are the genes tested in this panel?

The panel tests genetic variants in 5 regions:


4q25
Having the variant of 4q25 may increase your risk of atrial fibrillation, which causes an irregular heartbeat and risk of stroke¹.


9p21

Depending on which variants of region 9p21 you carry, you may have an increased risk of coronary artery disease²,³.


KIF6

Those with the variant of KIF6 who are treated with statins have a lower risk of cardiovascular disease.


APOE

Having the variant of APOE may increase your risk of Type III hyperlipoproteinemia, which prevents your body from correctly metabolizing fats. This can lead to atherosclerosis (a buildup of fats in your blood vessels), potentially increasing your risk of coronary artery disease and blood clots⁵.


Haptoglobin

Your chances of having heart disease or a stroke depends, in part, on which haptoglobin variant you have. This is especially true for those with diabetes, for whom cardiovascular disease is a major cause of death. Those with the Hp2-2 genotype and diabetes have a 500% greater risk of heart attack or stroke than those with the Hp1-1 genotype.


How can I improve my results?

Since your DNA can’t be changed, you will always carry any genetic variant that affects your risk for cardiovascular disease. The good news is you can lower your risk for heart disease through lifestyle changes, including not smoking, exercising regularly, eating a healthy diet, and avoiding excess weight.

References

  1. Shoemaker MB, Muhammad R, Parvez B, et al. Common atrial fibrillation risk alleles at 4q25 predict recurrence after catheter-based atrial fibrillation ablation. Heart Rhythm 2013;10(3):394–400.
  2. Slavin TP, Feng T, Schnell A, et al. Two-marker association tests yield new disease associations for coronary artery disease and hypertension. Hum Genet 2011;130(6):725–733.
  3. Wellcome Trust Case Control Consortium. Genome-wide association study of 14,000 cases of seven common diseases and 3,000 shared controls. Nature 20077;447(7145):661–6
  4. Ruiz-Iruela C, Padró-Miquel A, Pintó-Sala X, et al. KIF6 gene as a pharmacogenetic marker for lipid-lowering effect in statin treatment. PLoS One 201810;13(10):e0205430.
  5. Elmadbouh I, Elghobashy Y, Abd-Allah, E, et al. Relationship of apolipoprotein E polymorphism with lipid profiles in atherosclerotic coronary artery disease. Egypt Heart J 2013;65(2):71–78.
  6. Mayo Clinic. Strategies to prevent heart disease. Available from: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/heart-disease/in-depth/heart-disease-prevention/art-20046502
Last updated:
September 23, 2021

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