Marlene Shehata1, Fady Youssef2 and Alan Pater3
Posters-Accepted Abstracts: J Clin Exp Cardiolog
Genetic screening has been an intense topic in virtually all areas of medicine, with existing controversial data on whether individuals should or should not be genetically screened for risk. Examining salt-sensitive hypertension as an example, several genetic targets have been identified to be associated with salt-sensitive hypertension. These target genes associated with salt-sensitive hypertension should provide insights into the pathophysiology of the disease and can act as targets for novel drug therapies. However, comparing these target genes with biomarkers, it is evident that target genes provide a weaker predictor of salt-sensitive hypertension. Although target genes are not affected by someone?s age, sex, medications and diet and they never change in someone?s lifetime, biomarkers of salt-sensitivity such as higher aldosterone and lower N-terminal proatrial natriuretic peptide are more relevant in predicting individuals at risk to salt-sensitive hypertension than target gene variants. As such, it is not advised to perform routine genetic testing until clear evidence exists on a better management as a result of such genetic testing. Until then, genetic screening will be reserved to screening individuals fulfilling certain criteria and with a family history of salt-sensitive hypertension within the context of clinical trials.
