title: The apolipoprotein E and beta-fibrinogen G/A-455 gene polymorphisms are associated with ischemic stroke involving large-vessel disease.
abstract: The relationship between the apolipoprotein E (apoE) and beta-fibrinogen G/A-455 polymorphisms and cerebrovascular disease (CVD) was examined in the present study. We compared 227 patients with the subtypes of CVD (large-vessel disease, lacunar stroke, cardiac embolism, or undetermined pathomechanisms) with 225 control subjects. The occurrence of apoE isoforms (E2, E3, and E4) and the beta-fibrinogen G/A-455 genotype was determined in these individuals. No differences in apoE polymorphisms or allele frequencies between the CVD patients and control subjects were found. However, analysis of apoE genotypes as a function of stroke subtype revealed that the apoE4 allele was significantly more common in those patients with macroangiopathy-associated CVD. The only CVD risk factor that distinguished patients with the E4 allele from those with other apoE genotypes was elevated cholesterol. No association between the beta-fibrinogen G/A-455 polymorphism and CVD was found. However, homozygosity for the A allele was more common in patients with CVD resulting from large-vessel disease. These data demonstrate that the apoE4 allele and the AA genotype of the beta-fibrinogen G/A-455 polymorphism occur significantly more frequently in patients with CVD resulting from stenosis of large, brain-supplying vessels. Such genetic analyses may further our understanding of the etiology of cerebrovascular disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Ernst-Moritz-Arndt-University, Greifswald, Germany. kessler@neurologie.uni-greifswald.de
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kessler
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Spitzer
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Stauske
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mende
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Stadlmüller
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Walther
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rettig
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000483:Alleles; D053327:Apolipoprotein E4; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics*; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000097:blood / Q000145:classification / Q000150:complications* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D003328:Coronary Thrombosis / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D004617:Embolism / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D005787:Gene Frequency; D005838:Genotype; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000453:epidemiology; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology; D002542:Intracranial Embolism and Thrombosis / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics; D002546:Ischemic Attack, Transient / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017354:Point Mutation; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D053327:Apolipoprotein E4; D001057:Apolipoproteins E; D005340:Fibrinogen