Studies have found that the expression of ANRIL is significantly reduced in purified Peripheral Blood T-Cells (PBTL), monocytes, and plaque tissue of individuals carrying risk alleles associated with increased risk of coronary heart disease, stroke, and aortic aneurysm.22 Ahmed W's study also demonstrated a strong association between ANRIL single nucleotide polymorphisms and myocardial infarction as well as familial hypercholesterolemia patients in a population from northern Pakistan.23 This evidence concerns the gene CDKN2B-AS1 and aortic aneurysm.