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(Circulation. 2005;111:829.)
© 2005 American Heart Association, Inc.

Issue Highlights

An extract of the first 250 words of the full text is provided, because this article has no abstract.

	QTc PROLONGATION BY GRAPEFRUIT JUICE AND ITS POTENTIAL PHARMACOLOGICAL BASIS: HERG CHANNEL BLOCKADE BY FLAVONOIDS, by Zitron et al.

 
Select dietary flavonoids, found in fruits, vegetables, teas, and wines, are known to have antioxidant properties and positively influence vascular function. Consumption of foods rich in these flavonoids has been associated with reduced cardiovascular disease. The effect of these agents on cardiac electrophysiology, however, has not been reported. In this issue of Circulation, Zitron and colleagues demonstrate that many of these flavonoids inhibit cardiac potassium channels. Additionally, pink grapefruit juice, given to normal subjects, prolonged QTc. This finding suggests that select dietary flavonoid intake can influence cardiac electrophysiology. Whether these effects are proarrhythmic or antiarrhythmic is currently not known. See p 835.

	DISTINCT HERITABLE PATTERNS OF ANGIOGRAPHIC CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE IN FAMILIES WITH MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION, by Fischer et al.

 
Although most clinicians are familiar with the established risk factors for the development of coronary artery disease (CAD) and myocardial infarction (MI), a common question that arises is 'How much of a patient’s risk for CAD or MI is genetically determined?’ To answer this question, Fischer and colleagues performed a detailed analysis of 402 families in which the index patient had an MI before the age of 60. Indeed, traditional risk factors played a large role in the risk of developing CAD, but after correction for such factors, evidence emerged that certain angiographic patterns of CAD appeared to be under genetic control. Specifically, left main disease and proximal stenoses in the major epicardial coronary arteries displayed a high heritability pattern. Future research will need to focus on incorporating this new information in screening strategies in asymptomatic relatives of patients with CAD and MI. See p 855. . . [Full Text of this Article]