TY - JOUR
T1 - Twins lead to the prevention of atherosclerosis
T2 - Preliminary findings of international twin study 2009
AU - Tarnoki, Adam Domonkos
AU - Tarnoki, David Laszlo
AU - Stazi, Maria Antonietta
AU - Medda, Emanuela
AU - Cotichini, Rodolfo
AU - Lucatelli, Pierleone
AU - Boatta, Emanuele
AU - Zini, Chiara
AU - Baracchini, Claudio
AU - Meneghetti, Giorgio
AU - Nisticó, Lorenza
AU - Fagnani, Corrado
AU - Fanelli, Fabrizio
AU - Giannoni, Maria Fabrizia
AU - Gazzetti, Marianna
AU - Osztovits, Janos
AU - Jermendy, Gyorgy
AU - Préda, István
AU - Kiss, Róbert Gábor
AU - Littvay, Levente
AU - Metneki, Julia
AU - Horvath, Tamas
AU - Karlinger, Kinga
AU - Lannert, Agnes
AU - Yang, Eric Y.
AU - Nambi, Vijay
AU - Molnar, Andrea Agnes
AU - Berczi, Viktor
AU - Garami, Zsolt
PY - 2011/6
Y1 - 2011/6
N2 - Introduction.- Atherosclerosis is an inflammatory process in which the artery wall thickens as a result of plaque deposition, but this process may be preceded by increased arterial stiffness. We sought to evaluate the influence of genetics and shared and unshared environmental components on the onset of atherosclerosis. Methods.- A total of 135 monozygotic (MZ) and 70 dizygotic (DZ) twin pairs (mean age 49 ± 16 years) underwent carotid intima media thickness (IMT; carotid analyzer) and arterial stiffness (augmentation index on brachial artery [Aixbra] pulse wave velocity on aorta [PWV ao]; TensioMed Arteriograph) measurements. Results.- Age-adjusted intraclass correlations were greater in MZ than in DZ pairs for proximal right common carotid artery (CCA; MZ = 0.19, DZ = 0.06), proximal and distal left CCA (MZ = 0.27, DZ = 0.06; MZ = 0.27, DZ = 0.13, respectively), and proximal left internal carotid artery (ICA; MZ = 0.39, DZ = -0.54), suggesting a moderate genetic effect. Heritability was estimated to be 18% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 3-33) for proximal right CCA, 26% and 27% for proximal and distal left CCA, respectively, and 38% (95% CI = 26-49) for proximal left ICA. Regarding distal right CCA and proximal right ICA, no genetic effects were detected. Age-adjusted intraclass correlation of Aixbra and PWVao were 0.65 (95% CI = 0.55-0.72) and 0.46 (95% CI = 0.33-0.57) in MZ, 0.42 (95% CI = 0.24-0.57) and 0.28 (95% CI = 0.08-0.47) in DZ pairs; heritability 45% (95% CI = 12-71%) and 42% (95% CI = 2-57%) adjusted by age, respectively. Conclusions.- The investigated parameters appeared to be only moderately influenced by genetic factors. Environmental factors of relevance for these measures appeared not to be shared within family but related to individual experience (e.g., smoking habits, diet, and physical activity). Atherosclerosis detection at an early stage is necessary for treatment to prevent serious complications such as stroke and heart attack.
AB - Introduction.- Atherosclerosis is an inflammatory process in which the artery wall thickens as a result of plaque deposition, but this process may be preceded by increased arterial stiffness. We sought to evaluate the influence of genetics and shared and unshared environmental components on the onset of atherosclerosis. Methods.- A total of 135 monozygotic (MZ) and 70 dizygotic (DZ) twin pairs (mean age 49 ± 16 years) underwent carotid intima media thickness (IMT; carotid analyzer) and arterial stiffness (augmentation index on brachial artery [Aixbra] pulse wave velocity on aorta [PWV ao]; TensioMed Arteriograph) measurements. Results.- Age-adjusted intraclass correlations were greater in MZ than in DZ pairs for proximal right common carotid artery (CCA; MZ = 0.19, DZ = 0.06), proximal and distal left CCA (MZ = 0.27, DZ = 0.06; MZ = 0.27, DZ = 0.13, respectively), and proximal left internal carotid artery (ICA; MZ = 0.39, DZ = -0.54), suggesting a moderate genetic effect. Heritability was estimated to be 18% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 3-33) for proximal right CCA, 26% and 27% for proximal and distal left CCA, respectively, and 38% (95% CI = 26-49) for proximal left ICA. Regarding distal right CCA and proximal right ICA, no genetic effects were detected. Age-adjusted intraclass correlation of Aixbra and PWVao were 0.65 (95% CI = 0.55-0.72) and 0.46 (95% CI = 0.33-0.57) in MZ, 0.42 (95% CI = 0.24-0.57) and 0.28 (95% CI = 0.08-0.47) in DZ pairs; heritability 45% (95% CI = 12-71%) and 42% (95% CI = 2-57%) adjusted by age, respectively. Conclusions.- The investigated parameters appeared to be only moderately influenced by genetic factors. Environmental factors of relevance for these measures appeared not to be shared within family but related to individual experience (e.g., smoking habits, diet, and physical activity). Atherosclerosis detection at an early stage is necessary for treatment to prevent serious complications such as stroke and heart attack.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=79957937421&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/154431671103500201
DO - 10.1177/154431671103500201
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:79957937421
SN - 1544-3167
VL - 35
SP - 61
EP - 71
JO - Journal for Vascular Ultrasound
JF - Journal for Vascular Ultrasound
IS - 2
ER -