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Press Releases New York Presbyterian Hospital Columbia-Presbyterian Campus 161 Fort Washington Avenue New York, NY 10032 Contact: Karin Eskenazi or Ruth Flaherty (212) 305-5587 Department of Public Relations NEW YORK PRESBYTERIAN RESEARCHERS IDENTIFY GENE VARIATIONS IN HISPANIC CHILDREN THAT MAY LEAD TO INCREASED RISK OF HEART DISEASE AND STROKE AS ADULTS Early Detection May Offer Opportunities For Timely and Effective Intervention NEW YORK, NY, November 8, 1998 -- Researchers at New York Presbyterian Hospital, Columbia-Presbyterian campus, have identified slight gene variations in Hispanic children that can increase or decrease their risk of future cardiovascular disease. Early identification of this genetic variant will help physicians to better treat even young children who are at high risk for developing heart disease and stroke later in life. The Columbia-Presbyterian findings, which were presented at the American Heart Association’s 71st Scientific Session in Dallas on November 8, are the result of an ongoing National Institutes of Health (NIH)-sponsored study designed to identify children at increased risk of cardiovascular disease. One of the goals of the study, known as the Columbia Biomarkers Study, is to “identify biological markers, beyond cholesterol, that increase the risk of heart disease and stroke,” according to Lars Berglund, MD, PhD, one of the study’s principal investigators and Irving Associate Professor of Medicine at New York Presbyterian Hospital’s Columbia-Presbyterian campus, whose colleagues involved in the study include Drs. Steven Shea and Richard Deckelbaum. “Identifying such markers, like gene variations, will help us to better identify children at risk and, we hope, to intervene early to prevent later cardiovascular disease,” he adds. The findings presented at the AHA conference were based on test results from 240 Hispanic children, aged 3 to 20. Various parameters were studied for each child-family history, height/weight, cholesterol and lipid levels and exercise, diet, and smoking habits. In addition, the researchers were interested in identifying genetic factors that have been associated with particular HDL (high-density lipoprotein or the “good cholesterol”) and LDL (low-density lipoprotein or the “bad cholesterol”) levels. High HDL and low LDL levels are associated with decreased risk of heart disease and stroke, while low HDL and high LDL levels are associated with increased risk. Many genes and genetic variations that contribute to the development of cardiovascular disease have been identified. “It has been well documented that certain genetic variants are associated with premature cardiovascular disease in adults,” says Dr. Berglund. “It also has been shown that a particular gene-apolipoprotein E-has three variants that can be associated with increased or decreased HDL and LDL levels, which are linked to the development of heart disease and stroke.” The apolipoprotein E gene, commonly referred to as apo E, can be found in various forms-apo E2, apo E3, and apo E4. Previous studies in adults have shown that apo E4 is associated with increased LDL levels and an early onset of cardiovascular disease, while apo E2 appears to have a protective role because of its association with increased HDL levels. “The results of this study show that we can identify these important apo E variants even in childhood and that they appear to be associated with increased or decreased HDL and LDL levels,” notes Dr. Berglund. Even after adjusting for age, sex, body mass index, and family history of cardiovascular disease, Dr. Berglund and his colleagues found that children with the apo E4 variant had a significant association with both low HDL and high LDL levels. Conversely, children with the apo E2 variant had high HDL and low LDL levels. “These children with the apo E2 variant appear to have some protection against developing premature cardiovascular disease as adults,” according to Dr. Berglund. “Likewise, the children with apo E4 seem to be at increased risk. And knowing which children are at risk for serious disease will help us to take early intervention steps to prevent the disease from occurring.”