<\/em>Heterozygous carriers of HMGCR<\/em> predicted loss-of-function variants had higher risks for developing cataract, cataract surgery<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n <\/b><\/p>\n <\/b><\/p>\n WEDNESDAY, June 15, 2022 (HealthDay News) — Genetically proxied inhibition of the 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase (HMGCR<\/em>) gene, which mimics statin treatment, is associated with increased risk of cataract, according to a study published online June 15 in the Journal of the American Heart Association.<\/em><\/p>\n Jonas Ghouse, M.D., Ph.D., from Copenhagen University Hospital in Denmark, and colleagues examined the association between genetically proxied inhibition of HMGCR<\/em> and cataract risk. An HMGCR<\/em> genetic score consisting of five common variants was constructed, weighted by their association with low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Carriers of predicted loss-of-function mutations in HMGCR<\/em> were identified by analysis of exome sequencing data and the association with cataract and cataract surgery was examined<\/p>\n The researchers found that a 38.7 mg\/dL reduction in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol by the HMGCR<\/em> genetic score was associated with an increased risk for cataract and cataract surgery in an analysis of >402,000 individuals. Thirty-two of 169,172 individuals with HMGCR<\/em> sequencing data (0.02 percent) carried a rare HMGCR<\/em> predicted loss-of-function variant. Heterozygous carriers of HMGCR<\/em> predicted loss-of-function variants had increased risk of developing cataract and cataract surgery than noncarriers.<\/p>\n “We were able to establish a link between genetic variants that mimic inhibition of HMGCR<\/em> and the development of cataracts,” Ghouse said in a statement. “We were not able to find any association between newer non-statin, lipid-lowering medications and cataract risk, so this effect is likely specific to statins.”<\/p>\n One author disclosed financial ties to the pharmaceutical industry.<\/p>\n