Are personalized treatments on the horizon?

“Clonal hematopoiesis is increasingly recognized as a potent cardiovascular risk factor and some hospitals have even developed clonal hematopoiesis clinics to monitor the health status of people with this conditions,” Fuster told MNT.

“However,” he cautioned, “identifying the presence of clonal hematopoiesis is not yet recommended for the prevention of cardiovascular disease, partly because there are no evidence-based interventions to prevent or mitigate the elevated cardiovascular risk in those who exhibit clonal hematopoiesis.”

So, when it comes to potential future treatments, the researcher suggested that, “by clarifying that these mutations are a cause of atherosclerosis, not a consequence, [the] study suggests that blocking the effects of these mutations could help to prevent cardiovascular disease.”

“Ongoing work is trying to develop personalized strategies tailored to carriers of specific mutations linked to this conditions,” Fuster added.

Chen explained that “we are still in the very early stages of understanding how clonal hematopoiesis is related to atherosclerosis and even clinical heart disease.” However, “this field of research may potentially open up new avenues of therapy to decrease the risk of cardiovascular disease in people found to have this condition.”

Dasgupta agreed, explaining that although further research is needed, “screening for these mutations could become a way to assess a person’s long-term health risks.”

“This could lead to earlier steps to prevent disease, like lifestyle changes or specific treatments, especially for those with high-risk mutations. Knowing about these genetic risks could help people take action to protect their health sooner.”

– Raj Dasgupta, MD