In:
Stroke, Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health), Vol. 33, No. 1 ( 2002-01), p. 51-56
Abstract:
Background and Purpose — The mechanisms of ischemic stroke in young adults are poorly understood. During the last years, several studies suggested a role for genetic factors predisposing to thrombophilia and for moderate hyperhomocysteinemia in this setting. Methods — We evaluated in 132 consecutive patients (66 males, 66 females; mean±SD age, 38.4±11.7 years; mean±SD age at first event, 34.8±10.9 years; range, 6 months to 50 years) referred to our center between January 1997 and December 1999 for a history of young adult ischemic stroke (age at first event, 〈 51 years) the prevalence of factor V (FV) Leiden, prothrombin (FII) G20210A, and C677T and 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene mutations and fasting serum total homocysteine levels. Two hundred sixty-two apparently healthy subjects (117 males, 145 females; mean±SD age, 36±13.2 years) served as controls. Results — Total homocysteine levels differed significantly ( P =0.004, t test) between patients and controls: 13.03±18.61 versus 10.75±6.24 μmol/L (mean±SD), respectively. In contrast, homozygosity for the TT mutation of the MTHFR gene was 30 of 132 (22.7%) in patients and 45 of 262 (17.2%) in controls; this difference was not statistically significant ( P 〉 0.05, χ 2 test). However, when we stratified the whole population according to genotype, fasting serum homocysteine levels were significantly higher in TT patients than in TT controls (25.3±36.8 versus 15±11.6 μmol/L; P =0.02, t test). Mutations of FV Leiden and of FII G20210A gene are currently reported to be associated with a tendency toward ischemic stroke. Their frequencies were not statistically significantly different between patients and controls in this setting: 7 of 132 (5.3%) versus 17 of 262 (6.5%) for FV Leiden and 10 of 132 (7.6%) versus 16 of 262 (6.1%) for FII G20210A, respectively (all P 〉 0.05, χ 2 test). Conclusions — In the present cohort of patients, moderate hyperhomocysteinemia is the only variable that helps to identify young adults with a history of ischemic stroke.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
0039-2499
,
1524-4628
DOI:
10.1161/hs0102.100483
Language:
English
Publisher:
Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Publication Date:
2002
detail.hit.zdb_id:
1467823-8
