THE EUROPEAN ATHEROSCLEROSIS RESEARCH STUDY (EARS) - DESIGN AND OBJECTIVES

The European Atherosclerosis Research Study-EARS-is a multicentre coll aborative project sponsored by the European Community. Its main object ive is to study, in young people, the biological expression of a pater nal history of premature acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and the rel ative share of heredity and environment in this expression. In 14 cent res in 11 European countries, the offspring of fathers who suffered fr om a documented AMI before the age of 55 years (cases) are compared wi th age- and sex-matched control individuals. Genetic variables (restri ction fragment length polymorphisms of candidate genes), lifestyle var iables and biochemical variables that are known or suspected to play a role in the development of coronary heart disease (CHD), are studied. The cultural and ethnic diversity within Europe allows a thorough inv estigation of the relative importance and the potential interactions o f genetics and environment in the pathogenesis of CHD. A standardized core methodology and centralized storage of blood samples with particu lar types of analyses systematically carried out in one or a few speci alized laboratories, form a strong basis for valid cross-cultural anal yses. The results of this study will offer new clues for the modelling of individual risk for developing CHD.