Cardiovascular and kidney disease traits - Pleiotropic or just Polygenic?

摘要

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a major risk factor for coronary artery disease (CAD), congestive heart failure, atrial fibrillation, and valvular and vascular calcification. The majority of patients with CKD die of cardiovascular disease (CVD) before progressing to end-stage renal disease. Neither traditional risk factors-older age, hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, obesity, inadequate physical exercise, and smoking-nor nontraditional risk factors fully explain the excess risk of CVD in this population.