Clonal Hematopoiesis Confers Predisposition to Both Cardiovascular Disease and Cancer: A Newly Recognized Link Between Two Major Killers

The presence of a somatic mutation associated with hematologic cancer in the peripheral blood at a variant allele frequency of at least 2% in the absence of hematologic cancer defines clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP). CHIP is common, confers a risk for hematologic cancer of about 5% over 10 years, and is associated with a dramatic increase in cardiovascular risk independent of traditional risk factors. This commentary discusses CHIP's potential in cardiovascular risk assessment and as a biomarker for response to interventions to reduce cardiovascular risk.

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