- Novel SNPs Modulate ECG Measurements Including Heart Rate, Two are Also
Risk Factors for Atrial Fibrillation and Will be Integrated Into deCODE
AF(TM) Test
Scientists at deCODE genetics today report the discovery of seven novel
and common single-letter variations in the sequence of the human genome
(SNPs) that are involved in modulating the electrical impulses that govern
the working of the heart. Two of these SNPs, which correlate with
electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) measurements that are used in the clinical
evaluation of heart health and activity, were then shown to confer increased
risk of atrial fibrillation (AF), one of the most common causes of irregular
heartbeat and a leading cause of stroke. The paper, "Several common variants
modulate heart rate, PR interval and QRS duration," is published online in
Nature Genetics at http://www.nature.com/ng, and will appear in an upcoming
print addition of the journal.