Harrap S
General comments on genetic association studies in hypertension
16th Scientific Meeting of the International Society of Hypertension
ISH Abstract Book (Jun) 16: 1996

The simplicity of identifying genetic markers by PCR has led to a rapid increase in the number of reported genetic association studies of candidate genes and disease. The reports at the ISH on the renin-angiotensin system, ET and NOS illustrate many of the important aspects about this type of study that are evolving.

1. A genetic marker needs to have physiological significance (eg Ueda); fishing expeditions with non-functional polymorphisms will be unsuccessful except in linkage studies when for example thousands of markers are analyzed.

2. Large sample sizes are required to avoid type II error and the sample size needs to be much larger when multiple comparisons are made.

3. The population should be racially homogeneous. Otherwise, many of the studies performed are meaningless and are little more than tastes of what might be - were an adequately powered study performed (Alan Jardine, M.D., Glasgow University, Scotland).

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16th Scientific Meeting of the International Society of Hypertension
H: Pathophysiology : Genetics