Methods for Detecting an increased risk for coronary heart disease

Abstract

The invention relates generally to an allele on human chromosome 9 associated with increased risk for coronary heart disease and the use or detection of such an allele in determining whether a human has an increased risk for coronary heart disease. In one aspect, the invention relates to methods for detecting a predisposition or propensity or susceptibility for coronary heart disease in a human, comprising detecting the presence of an allele on human chromosome 9 that is associated with an increased risk for coronary heart disease in a human. Disclosed are methods and compositions for determining whether a person carries an allele associated with increased risk for coronary atherosclerosis by determining whether the person has an RA-CHR9 allele, such as by determining whether the person has an RA-CHR9 allele-associated single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP). The invention also relates to kits for detecting the presence of an allele on chromosome 9 associated with an increased risk for coronary heart disease.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A method for diagnosing a human as having an increased risk for coronary heart disease, comprising steps:
 specifically detecting a genetic marker in a nucleic acid sample isolated from a human, wherein the marker is a “G” allele at the polymorphic position defined by rs10757274 and based thereon,   specifically diagnosing the human as having an increased risk for coronary heart disease.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the detecting step comprises performing mass spectrometry of the sample. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the detecting step comprises performing oligonucleotide microarray analysis of the sample. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the detecting step comprises performing allele-specific hybridization of the sample. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the detecting step comprises performing allele-specific PCR of the sample. 
     
     
         6 . A method for diagnosing a human as having an increased risk for coronary heart disease, comprising steps:
 specifically detecting a genetic marker in a nucleic acid sample isolated from a human, wherein the marker is a “G” allele at the polymorphic position defined by rs10757274; and based thereon,   prescribing for the human or treating the human with a therapy to delay the onset, prevent the onset or slow progression of the coronary heart disease.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the detecting step comprises performing mass spectrometry of the sample. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the detecting step comprises performing oligonucleotide microarray analysis of the sample. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the detecting step comprises performing allele-specific hybridization of the sample. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the detecting step comprises performing allele-specific PCR of the sample. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the prescribing or treating step comprised prescribing a therapy to delay the onset, prevent the onset or slow the progression of the coronary heart disease. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the prescribing or treating step comprises prescribing a therapy to delay the onset, prevent the onset or slow the progression of the coronary heart disease, wherein the therapy is selected from aspirin,  digitalis , ACE (angiotensin converting enzyme) inhibitors, beta blockers, nitrates, calcium-channel blockers, diuretics, blood cholesterol-lowering agents, and thrombolytic agents. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the prescribing or treating step comprises prescribing a therapy to delay the onset, prevent the onset or slow the progression of the coronary heart disease, wherein the disease is coronary atherosclerosis and the therapy is a lipid-lowering medication. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the prescribing or treating step comprises administering a therapy to delay the onset, prevent the onset or slow the progression of the coronary heart disease. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the prescribing or treating step comprises administering a therapy to delay the onset, prevent the onset or slow the progression of the coronary heart disease, wherein the therapy is selected from aspirin,  digitalis , ACE (angiotensin converting enzyme) inhibitors, beta blockers, nitrates, calcium-channel blockers, diuretics, blood cholesterol-lowering agents, and thrombolytic agents. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the prescribing or treating step comprises administering a therapy to delay the onset, prevent the onset or slow the progression of the coronary heart disease, wherein the disease is coronary atherosclerosis and the therapy is a lipid-lowering medication. 
     
     
         17 . A kit configured to practice the method of  claim 1 , and comprising a probe for said marker. 
     
     
         18 . A kit configured to practice the method of  claim 6 , and comprising a probe for said marker.