Published Online
on October 20, 2005

A more recent version of this article appeared on November 1, 2005

This Article Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: 36/11/2351    most recent 01.STR.0000185719.66735.ddv1 Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Sayed-Tabatabaei, F. A. Articles by van Duijn, C. M. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Sayed-Tabatabaei, F. A. Articles by van Duijn, C. M. Related Collections Risk Factors Epidemiology Genetics of cardiovascular disease

Submitted on April 20, 2005
Revised on July 26, 2005
Accepted on August 1, 2005

Heritability of the Function and Structure of the Arterial Wall. Findings of the Erasmus Rucphen Family (ERF) Study

F. A. Sayed-Tabatabaei MD, PhD; M. J.E. van Rijn MSc; A. F.C. Schut MD, PhD; Y. S. Aulchenko PhD; E. A. Croes MD, PhD; M. C. Zillikens MD; H. A.P. Pols MD, PhD; J. C.M. Witteman PhD; B. A. Oostra PhD; and C. M. van Duijn PhD^*

From the Departments of Epidemiology & Biostatistics (F.A.S.-T., M.J.E.v.R., Y.S.A., E.A.C., M.C.Z., J.C.M.W., C.M.v.D.), Internal Medicine (A.F.C.S., M.C.Z., H.A.P.P.), and Clinical Genetics (B.A.O.), Erasmus Medical Centre, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: c.vanduijn{at}erasmusmc.nl.

Background and Purpose--Using 930 individuals connected in a single pedigree from an isolated population, participants of the Erasmus Rucphen Family (ERF) study, we investigated the heritability of carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV), carotid intima media thickness (IMT), and carotid plaque score.

Methods--PWV was measured between the carotid and femoral arteries as an indicator of aortic stiffness. Common carotid IMT and plaque score, quantifying alterations in arterial wall structure, were measured by ultrasonography.

Results--All 3 traits were significantly associated with classic cardiovascular risk factors. Age- and gender-adjusted heritability estimates were 0.36 for PWV, 0.41 for carotid IMT, and 0.28 for plaque score. After adjustment for appropriate risk factors, the heritabilities were 0.26, 0.35, and 0.21 for PWV, IMT, and plaque score, respectively. All heritability estimates were statistically significant (P<0.001). Taking into account different proportions of variance associated with covariates for each trait, genetic factors explained 12% of the total variability for each of the phenotypes.

Conclusions--To our knowledge, this is the first report on the heritability of PWV. The heritability estimates of IMT and plaque score were similar to those in previous reports. We conclude that genetic factors significantly contribute to arterial structure and function in this isolated population, presenting the opportunity to locate susceptibility genes related to cardiovascular disorders.

Key words: atherosclerosis • blood flow velocity • carotid arteries • genetics

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M.C. Zillikens, J. B.J. van Meurs, F. Rivadeneira, N. Amin, A. Hofman, B. A. Oostra, E. J.G. Sijbrands, J. C.M. Witteman, H. A.P. Pols, C. M. van Duijn, et al. SIRT1 Genetic Variation Is Related to BMI and Risk of Obesity Diabetes, December 1, 2009; 58(12): 2828 - 2834. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Cecelja and P. Chowienczyk Dissociation of Aortic Pulse Wave Velocity With Risk Factors for Cardiovascular Disease Other Than Hypertension: A Systematic Review Hypertension, December 1, 2009; 54(6): 1328 - 1336. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. B. Richards, F. K. Kavvoura, F. Rivadeneira, U. Styrkarsdottir, K. Estrada, B. V. Halldorsson, Y.-H. Hsu, M. C. Zillikens, S. G. Wilson, B. H. Mullin, et al. Collaborative Meta-analysis: Associations of 150 Candidate Genes With Osteoporosis and Osteoporotic Fracture Ann Intern Med, October 20, 2009; 151(8): 528 - 537. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Cecelja, B. Jiang, K. McNeill, B. Kato, J. Ritter, T. Spector, and P. Chowienczyk Increased wave reflection rather than central arterial stiffness is the main determinant of raised pulse pressure in women and relates to mismatch in arterial dimensions: a twin study. J. Am. Coll. Cardiol., August 18, 2009; 54(8): 695 - 703. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S Barra, G Gaeta, S Cuomo, P Guarini, M C Foglia, G Capozzi, C Materazzi, and M Trevisan Early increase of carotid intima-media thickness in children with parental history of premature myocardial infarction Heart, April 1, 2009; 95(8): 642 - 645. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P Henneman, Y S Aulchenko, R R Frants, K W van Dijk, B A Oostra, and C M van Duijn Prevalence and heritability of the metabolic syndrome and its individual components in a Dutch isolate: the Erasmus Rucphen Family study J. Med. Genet., September 1, 2008; 45(9): 572 - 577. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. L. Berends, C. J.M. de Groot, E. J. Sijbrands, M. P.S. Sie, S. H. Benneheij, R. Pal, R. Heydanus, B. A. Oostra, C. M. van Duijn, and E. A.P. Steegers Shared Constitutional Risks for Maternal Vascular-Related Pregnancy Complications and Future Cardiovascular Disease Hypertension, April 1, 2008; 51(4): 1034 - 1041. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Cuomo, G. Gaeta, P. Guarini, G. Tudisca, M. De Michele, M Gene Bond, and M. Trevisan Increased carotid intima-media thickness in healthy young subjects with a parental history of hypertension (parental hypertension and vascular health) Heart, March 1, 2007; 93(3): 368 - 369. [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Zureik, S. Czernichow, D. Courbon, J. Blacher, P. Ducimetiere, S. Hercberg, M. E. Safar, and P. Galan Parental Longevity, Carotid Atherosclerosis, and Aortic Arterial Stiffness in Adult Offspring Stroke, November 1, 2006; 37(11): 2702 - 2707. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]