On the search of arterial geometry heritability.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Geometrical risk factors for CAD have been previously proposed before. To date, however, the effect of those factors is not conclusive, and remains as an open research field. Here, we hypothesize that some of these factors have a genetic component explaining inter-individual variability. OBJECTIVE: To detect heritability indicators of the coronary arterial geometry. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A patient sample of 48 individuals, consisting of 24 siblings, was used. Three dimensional geometry of the LAD, LCx and RCA were reconstructed from standard CCTA. Arterial models were characterized in terms of 20+ geometric descriptors (phenotypes). A comprehensive statistical analysis to detect potential heritability of such phenotypes was employed. Heritability was assessed by means of several statistical indexes. Finally, the association of phenotypes to stenotic lesion is also reported. RESULTS: The RCA scored positive indications for heritability in 15+ phenotypes, while the LAD in 10 and the LCx in only 3 phenotypes. Association between presence of lesion and phenotypes was higher in the LAD, 10+ phenotypes, while for the LCx only 2 phenotypes were significantly associated, and none association was found for the RCA. CONCLUSION: The RCA showed potential heritability for the largest number of phenotypes, followed by the LAD. The LCx presents the weaker association of morphology among siblings. Regarding lesion-geometry associations, the there are hints of an underlying relation in the LAD, the LCx featured a weaker association and the RCA showed none. This difference could be related to the different hemodynamic environments in these arteries.