RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
A1 Nichols, Emma Hitt
T1 Mendelian Randomization as a Promising Approach to Define Which Biomarkers are Causal for Myocardial Infarction
JF MD Conference Express
YR 2013
FD SAGE Publications
VO 13
IS 13
SP 6
OP 8
DO 10.1177/155989771313002
UL http://mdc.sagepub.com/content/13/13/6.abstract
AB Biomarkers are important diagnostic tools that help physicians determine a patient's risk for developing a disease and can guide clinical decisions. However, at times, it is critical to understand if a specific biomarker causes disease or is merely reflective of the disease process. This distinction is important mainly if the biomarker is intended to be a therapeutic target (ie, lowering a biomarker with a drug with the hopes of lowering risk for disease). In humans, randomized controlled clinical trials and human genetics are two approaches to understand causal factors. This article discusses a human genetics approach—Mendelian randomization—to distinguish causal from noncausal biomarkers.