title: Association between VEGF polymorphisms and homocysteine levels in patients with ischemic stroke and silent brain infarction.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) plays a role in atherosclerosis-related diseases such as cerebrovascular or cardiovascular diseases. However, the effect of VEGF -2578C>A, -1154G>A, -634G>C, and 936C>T polymorphisms on the susceptibility to stroke and silent brain infarction has not been reported.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using polymerase chain reaction-amplified DNA, VEGF polymorphisms were analyzed in 615 patients with ischemic stroke, 376 patients with silent brain infarction, and 494 control subjects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The AA and CC+CA (C allele bearing) genotype frequencies of the -2578C>A polymorphism and the CT+TT (T allele-bearing) genotype frequency of the 936C>T polymorphism were significantly different between the stroke and control groups (false discovery rate-adjusted probability values of 0.016, 0.044, and 0.044, respectively). When stratified by the size of the occluded vessel, the VEGF polymorphisms were associated with patients with multiple small-artery occlusions. Several haplotypes of the VEGF polymorphisms were significantly different between the control and stroke groups. With respect to silent brain infarction, the difference in the frequency of the -634G>C polymorphism between the GC+CC (C allele-bearing) genotype and the controls was marginally significant (false discovery rate-adjusted probability value of 0.056). On the other hand, the -634G>C and 936C>T polymorphisms were associated with plasma homocysteine levels of patients with multiple or single small-artery occlusions, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study suggests that VEGF polymorphisms and haplotypes are possible genetic determinants for the risk of ischemic stroke, particularly in patients with multiple small-artery occlusions. However, VEGF polymorphisms had only a weak association with plasma homocysteine levels in the Korean population.
authors: Institute for Clinical Research, School of Medicine, CHA University, 351, Yatap-dong, Bundang-gu, Seongnam 463-712, South Korea.
authors: Ok Joon
authors: OJ
authors: Kim
authors: Seung Ho
authors: SH
authors: Hong
authors: Seung Hun
authors: SH
authors: Oh
authors: Tae Gon
authors: TG
authors: Kim
authors: Kyung Tae
authors: KT
authors: Min
authors: Doyeun
authors: D
authors: Oh
authors: Nam Keun
authors: NK
authors: Kim
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000483:Alleles; D044466:Asian People; D020520:Brain Infarction / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency / Q000235:genetics; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D006710:Homocysteine