Huang, XinYao, MinhaoTian, PeixinWong, Jason Y. Y.Li, ZilinLiu, ZhonghuaZhao, Jie V.2023-12-202023-12-202023-04-21Huang X, Yao M, Tian P, et al. Genome-wide cross-trait analysis and Mendelian randomization reveal a shared genetic etiology and causality between COVID-19 and venous thromboembolism. Commun Biol. 2023;6(1):441. Published 2023 Apr 21. doi:10.1038/s42003-023-04805-2https://hdl.handle.net/1805/37459Venous thromboembolism occurs in up to one-third of patients with COVID-19. Venous thromboembolism and COVID-19 may share a common genetic architecture, which has not been clarified. To fill this gap, we leverage summary-level genetic data from the latest COVID-19 host genetics consortium and UK Biobank and examine the shared genetic etiology and causal relationship between COVID-19 and venous thromboembolism. The cross-trait and co-localization analyses identify 2, 3, and 4 shared loci between venous thromboembolism and severe COVID-19, COVID-19 hospitalization, SARS-CoV-2 infection respectively, which are mapped to ABO, ADAMTS13, FUT2 genes involved in coagulation functions. Enrichment analysis supports shared biological processes between COVID-19 and venous thromboembolism related to coagulation and immunity. Bi-directional Mendelian randomization suggests that venous thromboembolism was associated with higher risk of three COVID-19 traits, and SARS-CoV-2 infection was associated with a higher risk of venous thromboembolism. Our study provides timely evidence for the genetic etiology between COVID-19 and venous thromboembolism (VTE). Our findings contribute to the understanding of COVID-19 and VTE etiology and provide insights into the prevention and comorbidity management of COVID-19.en-USAttribution 4.0 InternationalCOVID-19Mendelian randomization analysisRisk factorsSARS-CoV-2Venous thromboembolismArticle