Low birth weight babies genetic factors of heart disease

Low birth weight infant growth and development in the late incidence of heart disease, related to genetic factors has recently been discovered.

Canada's McGill University, Dr. Claire Infante-Rivard and his colleagues on the 449 cases of intrauterine growth retardation have a history of neonatal parents APOE gene to study the three subtypes, ruled out the factors that caused 32 cases of placental low birth weight. It also received 170 cases of infants parents DNA, in order to determine what kind they are carrying the APOE gene.

Through its analysis, the results showed that by inheritance, is expected to be carrying 27 babies ApoE2 genes, but in fact only 16 people, and carry ApoE4 gene APOE3 and significantly more than the number of infants is expected to figure.

The researchers pointed out that as a result of low birth weight infants carry protection against heart disease gene ApoE2 chance lower ApoE2 gene can reduce the risk of heart disease, therefore, low birth weight babies prone to heart disease. However, Infante-Rivard, Dr. that the current low birth weight of newborn screening for ApoE2 and to take preventive measures conditions are not ripe, still needs further research to prove.