Elsevier

American Heart Journal

Volume 144, Issue 3, September 2002, Pages 485-490
American Heart Journal

Clinical Investigations: Electrophysiology
Association of the human minK gene 38G allele with atrial fibrillation: Evidence of possible genetic control on the pathogenesis of atrial fibrillation,☆☆,

https://doi.org/10.1067/mhj.2002.123573Get rights and content

Abstract

Background Human minK protein is the β-subunit of IKs potassium channel and plays an important role in cardiac cellular electrophysiology. We investigated the association between human atrial fibrillation and the polymorphism of minK gene (38G or 38S) with a case-control study. Methods We included 108 patients with atrial fibrillation and 108 control subjects. The case patients and control subjects were matched regarding age, sex, presence of valvular heart disease, and presence of left ventricular dysfunction. The genotype of minK was determined with polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment analysis. Results The results showed an association between the minK 38G allele and atrial fibrillation. The odds ratios for atrial fibrillation in patients with 1 and 2 minK 38G alleles were 2.16 (95% CI 0.81-5.74) and 3.58 (95% CI 1.38-9.27), respectively, when compared with patients without minK 38G allele. In a logistic regression model, the odds ratio for atrial fibrillation was 1.80 (95% CI 1.20-2.71, P <.0046) for patients with 1 more minK 38G allele. Conclusion We report the association between the minK 38G allele and clinical atrial fibrillation. Our findings suggest possible genetic control on the pathogenesis of atrial fibrillation. (Am Heart J 2002;144:485-90.)

Section snippets

Study population

Case patients were 108 consecutive patients who were admitted to our adult cardiology ward and had a history of atrial fibrillation. Patients with hyperthyroidism were excluded. For every case patient, a matched control subject without a history of atrial fibrillation was selected from the same ward. The case patients and control subjects were matched regarding sex, age, presence of left ventricular dysfunction (ejection fraction, <55%), and presence of significant valvular heart disease (at

Characteristics of study patients

The characteristics of the study patients are shown in Table I. No significant differences were seen between the case patients and control subjects with regard to demographic data, body weight, body height, body mass index, and common cardiovascular risk factors, such as hypertension, diabetes, and smoking. Of the control subjects, 17 had aortic valve disease, 22 had mitral valve disease, and 8 had double valve disease, and of the case patients, 13 had aortic valve disease, 25 had mitral valve

Discussion

We reported the association between the minK 38G allele and the risk of atrial fibrillation. Our findings suggest possible genetic control on the pathogenesis of atrial fibrillation.

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  • Cited by (0)

    Supported by the National Taiwan University Hospital Research grant number 90N023.

    ☆☆

    Reprint requests: Jiunn-Lee Lin, MD, Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, No 7, Chung-Shan South Rd, Taipei, Taiwan.

    E-mail: [email protected]

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