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Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is more common in African-Americans (AAs) than in European Americans (EAs), an observation not explained by differences in acquired risk factors. While factor V Leiden and prothrombin gene mutation account for up to 60% of VTE heritability in EAs, these mutations are infrequent in AAs.
To identify genetic risk factors for VTE in AAs, investigators performed a genome-wide association study of a discovery cohort comprising 146 AAs with VTE and 432 healthy AA controls. The researchers then examined the most significant single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in an independent replication cohort of 94 AAs with VTE and 65 healthy AA controls.
Seven SNPs increased the risk for VTE by up to threefold in the discovery coho…