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Gene associated with sudden cardiac death identified by ICD monitoring

London, UK – 31 Aug 2015: A gene associated with sudden cardiac death in the general population has been identified using implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) monitoring in research presented for the first time at ESC Congress today1. The research included patients from the DISCOVERY trial and Oregon-SUDS and discovered that a polymorphism in the GNAS gene predicted ventricular tachyarrhythmias and sudden cardiac death.

Basic Science


EMBARGO : 31 August 2015 at 12:00 BST

“This is the first time a gene has been identified using ICD monitoring and then confirmed to be associated with sudden cardiac death in the general population,” said principal investigator Professor Heiner Wieneke, chief physician in the Department of Cardiology, Contilia Heart and Vessel Centre, St. Marien-Hospital Mülheim, Germany. “Epidemiological studies have suggested that genetic factors contribute to sudden cardiac death but only a few genes have been identified.”

Sudden cardiac death is one of the leading causes of death in Western countries and cardiac arrhythmias have been reported as the cause in many cases. Prior clinical studies have suggested that an individual’s genes may contribute to the risk of cardiac arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death.

ICDs are indicated for patients who either have survived a life threatening cardiac arrhythmia or have a high risk for sudden cardiac death due to cardiac arrhythmias. ICDs continuously monitor a patient’s cardiac rhythm. They also can diagnose and treat cardiac arrhythmias, potentially preventing sudden cardiac death.

Part one of the study was the DISCOVERY trial, a prospective, international, multicentre study in 1 145 patients who received an ICD for primary prevention of sudden cardiac death. ICDs were used to monitor and store cardiac arrhythmia data to study whether specific genes were associated with an increased risk of potentially life-threatening ventricular tachyarrhythmias. The researchers genotyped seven single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in three genes (GNB3, GNAQ and GNAS) coding G-protein subunits.2G-proteins interact with stimulated adrenoreceptors, angiotensin II receptors and ion channels in myocardial cells. Abnormal G-protein signal transduction has been suggested as a mechanism contributing to sudden cardiac death.

In the second part of the study, the genes found to be associated with cardiac arrhythmias in the DISCOVERY trial were evaluated in 1 335 patients from Oregon-SUDS (Sudden Unexpected Death Study), a community-based study analysing causes of sudden cardiac death in the Portland, Oregon metropolitan area.3

In the DISCOVERY trial, 297 patients had a ventricular tachyarrhythmia. In univariate analysis, genotypes of two SNPs in the GNAS gene were significantly predictive of ventricular tachyarrhythmias. The increased risk remained significant after adjustment for non-genetic covariates. One of these SNPs, GNAS c.393C>T, was significantly associated with sudden cardiac death in the Oregon-SUDS under the additive (odds ratio [OR]=1.2 [1.0-1.4], p=0.039) and recessive (OR=1.5 [1.1-2.1], p=0.01) genetic models.

“Using ICD monitoring and a sample of sudden cardiac death patients from the community we found that a polymorphism in the GNAS gene predicts ventricular tachyarrhythmias and sudden cardiac death,” said Professor Wieneke. “Our results suggest that GNAS mediated signal transduction may have an important role in ventricular arrhythmogenesis.”

He concluded: “We believe this is the first time that a gene variant has been identified by monitoring ventricular tachyarrhythmias in patients with ICDs and then confirmed in a wider population. The findings may help to identify patients at increased risk of sudden cardiac death.”

ENDS

References

1Professor Wieneke will present the abstract ‘Polymorphism in the GNAS gene predicts ventricular tachyarrhythmias and sudden cardiac death: results from the DISCOVERY trial and Oregon Sudden Death Study’ at 12:00 during:
•    Basic and Translational Science Hot Line on Ischaemia and Cardiac Function on Monday 31 August at 11:00 in the Stockholm room (Village 1)
2Seven SNPs in three genes were genotyped: GNB3 (c.825C>T), GNAQ (c.-909/-908GC>TT, c.-382G>A, c.-387G>A) and GNAS (c.393C>T, c.2273C>T, c.2291C>T).
3The Oregon-SUDs study has collected detailed information on patients in the general population who have succumbed to sudden cardiac death over the past 12 years, including each patient’s past medical history and blood samples to investigate genes associated with sudden cardiac death. Sudden cardiac death cases were identified from multiple sources, including the emergency medical response system, state medical examiner and local hospitals.

Notes to editor

SOURCES OF FUNDING: The DISCOVERY trial was financed by Medtronic.
 DISCLOSURES:
The DISCOVERY study was designed, conducted and analysed in cooperation with Medtronic.

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About the European Society of Cardiology
The European Society of Cardiology (ESC) represents more than 90 000 cardiology professionals across Europe and worldwide. Its mission is to reduce the burden of cardiovascular disease in Europe.
 
About ESC Congress 2015
ESC Congress is the world’s largest and most influential cardiovascular event contributing to global awareness of the latest clinical trials and breakthrough discoveries. ESC Congress 2015 takes place 29 August to 2 September at ExCel London in London, UK. Access the scientific programme. More information is available from the ESC Press Office at press@escardio.org.

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This press release accompanies both a presentation and an ESC press conference at the ESC Congress 2015. Edited by the ESC from material supplied by the investigators themselves, this press release does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the European Society of Cardiology. The content of the press release has been approved by the presenter.