Gene marks risk of VF (ventricular fibrillation) heart attacks:
This article was originally published in Clinica
Executive Summary
Heart attacks due to ventricular fibrillation are linked to genetic abnormalities in patients with no obvious cardiac disease, according to new US research. Mutations in the cardiac sodium channel gene SCN5A are responsible for the attacks - amounting to between 5% and 12% of VF cases. The gene could be used to assess individual risk through genetic testing, says the article (Nature March 19, p 293).