The PBTL of individuals that harbored a common SNP (rs10757278) had significantly reduced expression of all transcripts encoded by the 9p21.3 region, namely CDKN2A, CDKN2B, ARF and ANRIL. The SNP (rs10757278) has been associated with an increased risk of CHD, stroke and aortic aneurysm and is located downstream of the 3'-end of ANRIL (Figure 2). This evidence concerns the gene CDKN2B-AS1 and aortic aneurysm.