A recent discovery of a gene has confirmed the link between Coronary heart disease and a dental disease known as periodontitis. For a long time it was believed that the two diseases were linked in some form but a genetic relationship between the two conditions has now been discovered.
The researchers discovered a genetic variant situated on chromosome 9 which was shared between the two diseases. a genetic locus on chromosome 9p21.3 that had previously been identified to be associated with myocardial infarction, in a group of 151 patients suffering from the most aggressive, early-onset forms of periodontitis and a group of 1097 CHD patients who had already had a heart attack were studied. The genetic variation associated with the clinical pictures of both diseases was identical according to the results. The scientists went on to verify the association in further groups of 1100 CHD patients and 180 periodontitis patients.They found that the genetic risk variant is located in a genetic region that codes for an antisense DNA called ANRIL and it is identical for both diseases.
Both CHD and periodontitis are propagated by the same risk factors, most importantly smoking, diabetes and obesity, there is also a gender relationship, with men possibly more liable to these diseases than women. Researchers have also shown similarities in the bacteria found in the oral cavity and in coronary plaques, and both diseases are characterised by an imbalanced immune reaction and chronic inflammation.
This discovery is significant as it can act as an alarm, if evidence of one of the diseases is showing then tests can be done to investigate susceptibility to the other disease and take appropriate preventative action.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/151392.php
Source:
Mary Rice
European Society of Human Genetics
Article Date: 26 May 2009 - 4:00 PDT
By: Sebastian Egan 42041405
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