Genetic support for an adverse effect of calcium channel blockers on the human thoracic aorta

Despite the widespread use of L-type calcium channel blockers (CCBs), recent observational and murine functional work has suggested a potential adverse effect of this medication class on the aorta. Here, we apply a Mendelian randomization (MR) framework to assess the potential causal role of CACNA1C - the principal target of L-type CCBs in the human aorta - on thoracic aortic aneurysm and dissection (TAA/D). Genetic instrumental variables were derived from aortic expression quantitative trait locus data, and combined with large-scale genome-wide association data of TAA/D and ascending aortic d

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