The Cincinnati researchers suspected that the hormone norepinephrine played a role in CHF, so they tested volunteers for variations in two genes that affect the heart’s use of the hormone. People with an altered “alpha receptor” gene had a fivefold increase in risk. The second gene had no effect by itself, but it caused a tenfold increase if it occurred in tandem with the first.
The alterations are easy to detect, says Dr. Stephen Liggett, the molecular geneticist who led the study. Though not yet available in clinics, the $10 test he used in the study could someday help high-risk people steer clear of other hazards, such as high cholesterol and high blood pressure. But until we have better safeguards against genetic discrimination by employers and insurers, routine screening is unlikely. The best strategy for now: hope that you have good genes, but don’t bet your life on it.
