Analytic strategies for stroke genetics.
Strokes occur in first-degree relatives of stroke patients at rates approximating 40%; estimated population prevalences range from 3%-12%. The recent discovery of the Strk1 gene in Icelandic families, associated with a 7-fold increased stroke risk in carriers, strongly implicates a genetic contribution to stroke independent of other genetically based risk factors such as hypertension or diabetes. In this article we review the evidence for genetic contributions to stroke. We describe roles for genetic and molecular epidemiology in evaluating this complex disease. We delineate study design issues and analytic strategies to determine genetic association.
Hertzberg
Vicki Stover
VS
Department of Biostatistics, Emory University Rollins School of Public Health, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA. vhertzb@sph.emory.edu
Stern
Barney J
BJ
Sherman
Stephanie
S