Genetic variation of low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol and its clinical implications

摘要

Plasma lipids are controlled by genes and play an important role in the development of atherosclerosis. Dysplipidemia is an important risk factor for coronary artery disease (CAD). Coronary artery disease is the leading cause of mortality and morbidity in the developed world. More than 14 million Americans are afflicted with clinically significant CAD. To illustrate the impact of CAD in developed countries, the medical and societal costs of CAD in the United States alone are in excess of $90 billion annually. More than 600 000 Americans each year develop new cardiac events, more than 10% of which occur in Americans < 50 years of age. Identifying genetic predisposition to early onset of CAD could help in understanding basic disease mechanism, guiding targeted preventive efforts, and planning appropriate therapeutic strategies.