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Thromb Haemost 1999; 82(03): 1100-1105
DOI: 10.1055/s-0037-1614336
Letters to the Editor
Schattauer GmbH

Longevity Is Independent of Common Variations in Genes Associated with Cardiovascular Risk

Else M. Bladbjerg
1   From the Department of Thrombosis Research, University of Southern Denmark and Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Ribe County Hospital in Esbjerg, Odense, Denmark
,
Karen Andersen-Ranberg
2   Centre for Health and Social Policy, Odense University Hospital, and Department of Clinical Chemistry, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
,
Moniek P. M. de Maat
1   From the Department of Thrombosis Research, University of Southern Denmark and Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Ribe County Hospital in Esbjerg, Odense, Denmark
,
Søren Risom Kristensen
3   Department of Clinical Chemistry, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
,
Bernard Jeune
2   Centre for Health and Social Policy, Odense University Hospital, and Department of Clinical Chemistry, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
,
Jørgen Gram
1   From the Department of Thrombosis Research, University of Southern Denmark and Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Ribe County Hospital in Esbjerg, Odense, Denmark
,
Jørgen Jespersen
1   From the Department of Thrombosis Research, University of Southern Denmark and Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Ribe County Hospital in Esbjerg, Odense, Denmark
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Received 24 November 1998

Accepted after resubmission 23 March 1999

Publication Date:
09 December 2017 (online)

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Summary

Do extremely old persons have a genetically favourable profile which has protected them from cardiovascular death? We have tried to answer this question by measuring DNA polymorphisms of selected cardiovascular risk indicators [factor VII, FVII (R/Q353, intron 7 (37bp)n, and -323ins10), β fibrinogen (-455G/A), plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1, PAI-1 (-675(4G/5G)), tissue plasminogen activator, t-PA (intron 8 ins311), platelet receptor glycoprotein IIb/IIIa, GPIIb/IIIa (L/P33), prothrombin (20210G/A), methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase, MTHFR (A/V114), angiotensin converting enzyme, ACE (intron 16 ins287), and angiotensinogen (M/T235)]. Blood was collected from 187 unselected Danish centenarians, and 201 healthy Danish blood donors, aged 20-64 years (mean age 42 years). Genomic DNA was amplified using PCR and the genotype was determined by RFLP methods or allele-specific amplification followed by agarose gel electrophoresis. The frequencies of the high-risk alleles in centenarians were: for FVII R/Q353 0.91; for FVII intron 7 (37bp)n 0.67; for FVII-323 ins10 0.90; for fibrinogen 0.16; for PAI-1 0.52; for t-PA 0.59; for GPllb/llla 0.16; for prothrombin 0.008; for MTHFR 0.33; for ACE 0.52; and for angiotensinogen 0.36. Comparable frequencies were observed in the blood donors. Subgroup analysis of men and women separately gave similar results. The genotype frequencies in the centenarians and the blood donors were similar for all polymorphisms, and this study suggests that common variations in genes associated with cardiovascular risk do not contribute significantly to longevity.

 

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