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Heart disease and stroke kill more than 12 million people
worldwide each year. High blood pressure, high cholesterol,
obesity and smoking are all well known risk factors for heart
disease. However, few people realise that high blood pressure
is responsible for up to 50% of all deaths from heart disease
and stroke. Recent surveys within the UK and Europe suggest
that up to 30% of adults in Western countries suffer with
high blood pressure. Although we have a number of treatments
that are effective in lowering blood pressure and cholesterol,
sadly, many patients do not achieve good blood pressure control.
As a result far too many people die each year from heart disease
and stroke. This is why research to understand the causes
of high blood pressure is of great importance. So too is the
need to have new diagnostic tests to identify patients who
are likely to develop heart disease or stroke so that their
treatment can be optimised to provide the maximum benefit.
The William Harvey Research Institute is one of the top
centres for patient studies of new medicines for treating
heart disease and stroke. It is also a key centre for research
on genes causing high blood pressure (hypertension). Professor
Mark Caulfield is leading a national study to identify the
genes involved in high blood pressure. This is known as the
MRC British Genetics of Hypertension Study. In partnership
with five other UK universities 1700 families with severe
raised blood pressure are being investigated. Good progress
has been made but further research is required to reveal the
precise genes that raise blood pressure. Eventually this is
likely to lead to new treatments.
Research is also underway to investigate the genetic cause
of high blood pressure in pregnancy. This condition known
as pre-eclampsia is a very important cause of pregnancy related
health problems, which if untreated can be life threatening
for both the mother and baby. As well as research to identify
the genes that put mothers at risk of this problem, new diagnostic
tests are required that can detect these complications before
symptoms develop.
The William Harvey Research Foundation needs funds
(i) to accelerate the progress of identifying genes that cause
high blood pressure and pre-eclampsia, (ii) to enable the
development of new diagnostic tests for patients that are
likely to develop heart disease or stroke, and (iii) to perform
more clinical trials of new and alternative treatments in
patients that respond poorly to current medicines.
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