Cardiovascular (CV) diseases, particularly those secondary to atherosclerosis, are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in modern societies. Classical CV risk factors, including age and gender, family history, tobacco smoking, hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia and obesity cannot predict more than 50% of future CV events. Use of specific scores (like the SCORE chart) does not much contribute to the precise evaluation of patients classified at moderate risk. Thus, more research is needed: 1) to study patho-physiological mechanisms of the atherothrombotic process in order to identify new pharmacological targets and, 2) to validate new biomarkers with a strong predictive value regarding the onset of hard CV clinical events. Moreover, genetic polymorphisms underlie an individual's susceptibility to develop atherosclerotic diseases. Identification of those gene variants might help to define a personalized approach for the treatment of CV diseases. Patients consulting the Centre for Screening and Prevention of Atherosclerosis (CDPA) are submitted to a personal face-to-face interview addressing their life style, nutritional and smoking habits, and their physical activity practice. Clinical examination includes ECG, stress test, ankle-arm systolic index, ultrasonography of arteries (carotid, aorta, lower limb) and determination of a coronary calcification score. Blood samples are taken up for chemistry measurements including lipoproteins (triglycerides, LDL-C, HDL-C, Lp(a)). For the specific purpose of the biological collection, two supplementary blood tubes will be collected (2 x 7 ml); serum, plasma and genomic DNA will be prepared. Patients will be followed up yearly for those on secondary prevention and every 2nd year on primary prevention. Identical investigation will be carried out at every visit. Recruitment period will spread over 5 years and follow-up will be pursued up to 8 years.
The main goal of this project is to constitute a collection of biological samples, obtained through the clinical activity of the Centre for Screening and Prevention of Atherosclerosis at Toulouse University Hospital, managing patients in primary or secondary prevention for cardiovascular (CV) diseases. The main objective is to validate new biomarkers with prognostic value regarding the onset of future CV events. Besides, the biological collection will enable patho-physiological studies on atherosclerosis related diseases.