Abstract
Ellinor et al (Nat Med 2010;42:240, PMID 20173747) sought to identify common genetic variants underlying lone atrial fibrillation (AF). This condition affects a subset of individuals without overt heart disease and with an increased heritability of AF. The authors report a meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies conducted using 1,335 individuals with lone AF (cases) and 12,844 unaffected individuals (referents). They identified an association on chromosome 1q21 to lone AF (rs13376333; adjusted odds ratio = 1.56, P = 6.3 × 10–12) and replicated this association in two independent cohorts with lone AF (overall combined odds ratio = 1.52, 95% confidence interval 1.40–1.64, P = 1.83 × 10–21). rs13376333 is intronic to KCNN3. The authors identified a new locus for lone AF at the calcium-activated potassium channel gene KCNN3. Future studies will seek to determine the mechanistic links between genetic variation at this locus and AF.
Published Version
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call