title: [Polymorphism of brain derived neurotrophic factor and recovery of functions after ischemic stroke].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  After ischemic stroke, many factors influence the restitution of functions. In particular they include the patient age, the initial stroke severity and the presence of cognitive and neuropsychological deficits. In this study we investigated whether a polymorphism in the gene encoding for brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) influences improvements of motor functions and everyday activities.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with subacute ischemic stroke (n = 67) were examined at the beginning of an inpatient neurological rehabilitation, after 4 weeks of treatment and after 6 months. The Barthel index (BI) and the Rivermead motor assessment (RMA) were used to measure motor functions and everyday activities. Patients were allocated to three groups (valine [Val]/valine, val/methionine [Met] and Met/Met) depending on the BDNF polymorphism at codon 66.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The 3 groups (Val/Val, n = 34 patients, Val/Met, n = 26 and Met/Met, n = 7) showed significant improvements in BI and RMA after 4 weeks and after 6 months as compared to the preceding measurements. The BI and RMA were positively correlated. The three groups did not differ with respect to the extent of improvement.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  After ischemic stroke, motor functions and everyday activities improved continuously over a period of at least 6 months. The BDNF polymorphism did not influence this development.
authors.affiliation: Abteilung für Neurorehabilitation, Kliniken Schmieder, Zum Tafelholz 8, 78476, Allensbach, Deutschland. j.liepert@kliniken-schmieder.de.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liepert
authors.affiliation: Abteilung für Neurorehabilitation, Kliniken Schmieder, Zum Tafelholz 8, 78476, Allensbach, Deutschland.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Heller
authors.affiliation: Abteilung für Verhaltensneurologie, Leibniz Institut für Neurobiologie, Magdeburg, Deutschland.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Behnisch
authors.affiliation: Abteilung für Neurorehabilitation, Kliniken Schmieder, Zum Tafelholz 8, 78476, Allensbach, Deutschland.|Abteilung für Verhaltensneurologie, Leibniz Institut für Neurobiologie, Magdeburg, Deutschland.|Neurologische Klinik, Otto-von-Guericke Universität, Magdeburg, Deutschland.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schoenfeld
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000235:genetics*; D015984:Causality; D005260:Female; D005819:Genetic Markers / Q000235:genetics; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009069:Movement Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / Q000235:genetics*; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000235:genetics*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D020521:Stroke / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation
chemical_list: D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D005819:Genetic Markers; C579455:BDNF protein, human
keywords: BDNF; Barthel index; Ischemic stroke; Recovery of functions; Rivermead motor assessment