Twins lead to the prevention of atherosclerosis: Preliminary findings of international twin study 2009

Adam Domonkos Tarnoki, David Laszlo Tarnoki, Maria Antonietta Stazi, Emanuela Medda, Rodolfo Cotichini, Pierleone Lucatelli, Emanuele Boatta, Chiara Zini, Claudio Baracchini, Giorgio Meneghetti, Lorenza Nisticó, Corrado Fagnani, Fabrizio Fanelli, Maria Fabrizia Giannoni, Marianna Gazzetti, Janos Osztovits, Gyorgy Jermendy, István Préda, Róbert Gábor Kiss, Levente LittvayJulia Metneki, Tamas Horvath, Kinga Karlinger, Agnes Lannert, Eric Y. Yang, Vijay Nambi, Andrea Agnes Molnar, Viktor Berczi, Zsolt Garami

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract (may include machine translation)

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.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)61-71
Number of pages11
JournalJournal for Vascular Ultrasound
Volume35
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 2011

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