Researchers Find Gene Variants that Might up Heart Attack, Stroke Risk

Researchers have found genetic variants that might increase heart attack and stroke risk.

Two research papers published in the journal PLOS One show that genetic variation in a protein known as 'glycoprotein IIIa,' is associated with heart attack and stroke risk. The research was conducted by scientists at King's College, London.

The genetic variant is found in platelets, which is a type of blood cells involved in the formation of blood clots, researchers said.

The study could, in the future, help identify people that are at particularly high-risk of developing stroke or heart attack. Stroke is when the brain doesn't get enough blood. The condition is also called a "brain attack." Stroke is one of the leading causes of death in the U.S.

A heart attack occurs when the heart doesn't get enough oxygen. The condition is usually caused by atherosclerosis, a condition in which plaque builds up in the arteries.

For the studies, researchers conducted a meta-analysis using data from 50,000 people enrolled in 82 studies.

In the first research paper, the study team found that people carrying the PlA2 genetic variant of glycoprotein IIIa had a higher risk of thrombotic stroke, which is caused by a blood clot.

The risk of a thrombotic stroke was even higher in people who carried two copies of the gene variant, researchers found.

Another type of stroke called haemorrhagic stroke, which is caused by bleeding in the brain, wasn't associated with the gene variant.

The second research paper says that the same genetic variant is linked to higher risk of heart attack in young people.

 "The genetic risk found in stroke and heart attack patients is likely to be caused by over-active platelets. Under normal circumstances, platelets help your body form clots to stop bleeding, but in these patients platelet activation has the undesired effect of causing their narrowed arteries to be blocked off completely," Albert Ferro, Professor of Cardiovascular Clinical Pharmacology at King's College London, said in a news release.

 "In future it may be possible to reduce the chances of this happening by examining patients for this variant on a blood test, so that if they carry the PlA2 form - and especially if they carry two copies of it - such patients could be identified for a more determined reduction of risk factors such as smoking, high blood pressure or high cholesterol," Ferro said.

The study is funded by Guy's and St Thomas' Charity.