title: Association of endothelial nitric oxide synthase polymorphism G894T with functional outcome in acute stroke patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) G894T polymorphism has been previously associated with vascular diseases including stroke, but often with conflicting results. Experimental evidence suggests that some eNOS modalities may be important in  preventing stroke, while others may be important during the dynamic inflammatory processes triggered at the acute phase of stroke. Thus, we examined the possible association of eNOS G894T variation with stroke severity and functional outcome.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and eight consecutive  patients with first ever acute atherothrombotic or lacunar stroke, and 193 stroke-free subjects were recruited. Demographic data, medical history, and vascular risk factors were collected. Assessments for stroke severity and functional outcome were carried out on admission and at one month  post-stroke, respectively. eNOS G894T genotypes were produced using a standard restriction-fragment-length polymorphism technique.
  
  
  RESULTS
  eNOS G894T polymorphism genotypic distributions did not differ between stroke patients and controls, as well as between each stroke subtype  and controls. Carriage of T allele (GT and TT genotypes versus GG) was not significantly associated with either stroke severity or functional outcome in the univariate analysis. However, after accounting for age, gender and stroke severity, the presence of T allele strongly predicted poor  outcome [odd ratio 8·49 (95% confidence intervals 1·57-46·0)]. Further adjustments for other important confounders could not alter the above significant association.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Carriers of the eNOS 894T allele are at increased risk for adverse outcome  at one month post-stroke, independently of severity and other confounding factors. Therapeutic interventions targeting patients with this unfavorable mutation may be an appealing approach.
authors: Department of Neurology, University of Patras, Greece. ellul@upatras.gr
authors: John
authors: J
authors: Ellul
authors: Sofia
authors: S
authors: Markoula
authors: Stella
authors: S
authors: Marousi
authors: Anna
authors: A
authors: Galidi
authors: Athanassios P
authors: AP
authors: Kyritsis
authors: Panagiotis
authors: P
authors: Papathanasopoulos
authors: Ioannis
authors: I
authors: Georgiou
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000483:Alleles; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics*; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III / Q000235:genetics*; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D020521:Stroke / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III