Genetics of hypertension and cardiovascular disease and their interconnected pathways: lessons from large studies.

ABSTRACT: Blood pressure (BP), hypertension (HT) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) are common complex phenotypes, which are affected by multiple genetic and environmental factors. This article describes recent genome-wide association studies (GWAS) that have reported causative variants for BP/HT and CVD/heart traits and analyzes the overlapping associated gene polymorphisms. It also examines potential replication of findings from the HyperGEN data on African Americans and whites. Several genes involved in BP/HT regulation also appear to be involved in CVD. A better picture is emerging, with overlapping hot-spot regions and with interconnected pathways between BP/HT and CVD. A systemic approach to full understanding of BP/HT and CVD development and their progression to disease may lead to the identifi

SUBMITTER: Kraja AT 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3063340 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature