Estrogen Receptor Gene Has No Effect on Heart, Stroke Risk

Modest increase in breast cancer risk, but no link to cardiovascular disease, hip fracture and lipoprotein response to HRT

MONDAY, Feb. 19 (HealthDay News) -- The estrogen receptor α (ESR1) IVS1-397T/C polymorphism has no impact on the risk of cardiovascular disease, hip fracture, most reproductive cancers or lipoprotein response to hormone replacement therapy, according to a study published online Feb. 19 in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association. However, there is a modest increase in breast cancer risk associated with the TT genotype.

Alisa D. Kjaergaard, M.D., of Herlev University Hospital in Herlev, Denmark, and colleagues conducted a study of 9,244 people in the Danish general population who were followed up for 23 to 25 years. Among the sample, the frequency of the CC, CT and TT genotypes was 21 percent, 50 percent and 29 percent, respectively.

Rates of cardiovascular disease, reproductive organ cancers and hip fracture were observed. The authors also compared 2,495 patients with ischemic heart disease, 856 with ischemic cardiovascular disease and 1,256 with breast cancer to population-based controls.

The only difference in odds ratio across the three genotypes was a 40 percent higher risk of breast cancer in those with the TT genotype compared with the CC genotype. For all other risk factors there was no difference.

"Important new findings include that our study rebuts the current hypothesis that the ESR1 IVS1-397T/C polymorphism is associated with risk of myocardial infarction and other cardiovascular diseases in both men and women but that this polymorphism possibly is associated with a modest increase in risk of breast cancer," the authors conclude.

Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)

Related Stories

No stories found.
logo
www.healthday.com