Coronary artery disease and myocardial infarction
are the most frequent causes of death. Even
nowadays, every second myocardial infarction is
lethal and hits the patients unexpectedly without
previous signs or symptoms. . A comprehensive
analysis using molecular genetic testing including
the cardiovascular risk factors showed that 1. This
myocardial infarction locus is unique and does not
overlap with chromosomal loci for well-established
risk factors, 2. Cardiovascular risk factors, such as
LP (a), diabetes mellitus, serum lipids, or arterial
hypertension have strong genetic components. These
findings do not exclude a role of cardiovascular risk
factors or candidate genes in the pathogenesis of
myocardial infarction, but rather demonstrate that
risk factors may act as surrogates of specific
underlying disease mechanisms. It is thus necessary
to perform a comprehensive analysis of complex
polygenic diseases, such as myocardial infarction,
including both, established cardiovascula