+

Our focus on research is on premature atherosclerosis.

Fifty percent of all individuals, whom die of cardiovascular disease, are older than 80 years of age. This means, that cardiovascular disease is a disease of older age. Whenever young individuals develop cardiovascular disease, for instance a myocardial infarction at the age of 40 years, this is very unusual. This is called premature atherosclerosis. Likely, this person will have accelerated atherosclerotic disease. Sometimes this occurs in several family member of one family, suggesting a genetic predisposition for accelerate atherosclerotic disease.

Our main focus is on unravelling the underlying mechanisms responsible for accelerate atherosclerosis from an epidemiological, genetic and basic science point of view. Secondly, we try to estimate the risk family members have for accelerated atherosclerosis, since due to their young age the standard risk models cannot be used.

For that matter we have developed a premature atherosclerosis family outpatient clinic, in which we counsel patients and family members on cause, treatment and risk of cardiovascular disease.