Genomic medicine may one day revolutionize cardiovascular care

By Sally Robertson, B.Sc.May 29 2018

A statement published by the American Heart Association has summarized the state-of-the science in the field of genomic medicine for studying cardiovascular traits and disorders, and therapeutic screening.

Credit: Sergey Nivens/Shutterstock.com

As researchers learn more about cardiovascular disease at the molecular level, the hope is that therapies can be developed that will take advantage of this knowledge and be able to treat or potentially cure heart disease, explains Musunuru.

The promise of genomic medicine is to be able to use a patient's specific genetic material to make a personalized forecast of their risk for heart disease, and if they develop disease, predict its course and determine the particular medications that are more likely to help with their disease.”

Kiran Musunuru, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia

The molecules DNA and RNA occur in almost all living organisms. The DNA contains the genetic code that is “translated” into proteins and metabolites by RNA.

Although DNA carries inherited traits and remains relatively stable throughout life, its translation can be altered by environmental factors such as diet, exercise and smoking.

Researchers in the field of genomic medicine analyze all types of molecular variation to try to identify links between patterns in the data and health outcomes.

One example of genomic medicine that doctors can currently use is a non-invasive blood test for patients who have had a heart transplant. The test measures levels of 11 different RNA molecules to establish whether the immune system is rejecting the transplant.

Traditionally, physicians assess heart biopsies taken from the patient on a weekly or biweekly basis, which although considered relatively safe, is associated with risks, costs and patient discomfort.

Musunuru says the hope is that genomic medicine will lead to the availability of hundreds of non-invasive tests such as this that doctors can use to better forecast and manage disease.

The statement was recently published in the American Heart Association journal Circulation: Genomic and Precision Medicine.

Source:

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-05/aha-gmm052418.php