Medical Xpress: Genetic characteristics of peripheral artery disease

Peripheral artery disease (PAD)—a narrowing of the arteries serving the legs and feet —affects as many as 12 million Americans and 200 million people worldwide. It is a manifestation of clogged arteries, but until now, scientists lacked information about why some people with the disease presented with problems with their legs, some with their heart and some with strokes.

A large national study with significant Vanderbilt participation, published July 8 in Nature Medicine, may help explain why. The research team studied the genetic characteristics of 31,300 people with PAD and identified 19 genetic markers, 18 of which were previously unreported.

Click here to see the full article on the Medical Xpress website.