A gene variant linked to heart failure may amplify the risks from alcohol drinking, British researchers have reported.
The study of the titin gene found it implicated in alcoholic cardiomyopathy, suggesting that it can make heavy drinkers especially vulnerable to the ill-effects of alcohol.
A second analysis links it to dilated cardiomyopathy. Researchers found that patients who carried the faulty gene and who drank slightly above recommended limits were more likely than others to have reduced heart output – by a factor of 30%.
The findings were published last night in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
The study of 141 patients with alcoholic cardiomyopathy found that 13.5% carried the mutation of the titin gene. The researchers say this is much higher than the proportion in the general population.
Researcher Dr Paul Barton, from Imperial College, London, UK, said: “Alcohol and the heart have a complicated relationship. While moderate levels may have benefits for heart health, too much can cause serious cardiac problems. This research suggests that in people with titin-related heart failure, alcohol may worsen the condition.
“An important wider question is also raised by the study: do mutations in titin predispose people to heart failure when exposed to other things that stress the heart, such as cancer drugs or certain viral infections? This is something we are actively seeking to address.”
J Ware et al. Genetic Etiology for Alcohol-Induced Cardiac Toxicity. Journal of the American College of Cardiology 28 May 2018; doi: 10.1016/j.jacc.2018.03.462
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