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(Stroke. 2003;34:886.)
© 2003 American Heart Association, Inc.

Original Contributions

Fibrinogen Gene Promoter -455 A Allele as a Risk Factor for Lacunar Stroke

M. Martiskainen, MD; T. Pohjasvaara, MD, PhD; J. Mikkelsson, MD, PhD; R. Mäntylä, MD; T. Kunnas, MSc; P. Laippala, PhD; E. Ilveskoski, MD, PhD; M. Kaste, MD, PhD; P.J. Karhunen, MD, PhD T. Erkinjuntti, MD, PhD

From the School of Medicine (M.M., J.M., T.K., E.I., P.J.K.) and School of Public Health (P.L.), University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland; Centre of Laboratory (M.M., J.M., T.K., E.I., P.J.K.) and Research Unit (P.L.), Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland; Memory Research and Stroke Units, Department of Clinical Neurosciences (T.P., M.K., T.E.), and Department of Radiology (R.M., P.L.), Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland; and Lohja District Hospital (T.P.), Lohja, Finland.

Correspondence to Pekka J Karhunen, MD, Department of Forensic Medicine, Medical School, University of Tampere, 33014 Tampere, Finland. E-mail pekka.karhunen{at}uta.fi

Background and Purpose— Elevated fibrinogen levels are suggested to increase the risk of myocardial infarction and stroke. Carriers of the A allele of the fibrinogen -455G/A polymorphism have increased plasma fibrinogen levels. We studied the association of this polymorphism with stroke subtype in the Stroke Aging Memory (SAM) cohort.

Methods— The SAM cohort comprises 486 consecutive patients 55 to 85 years of age who, 3 months after ischemic stroke, completed a detailed stroke assessment. Stroke subtypes were examined with MRI. -455G/A genotype was determined by polymerase chain reaction. MRI and genotype data were available for the 299 patients who constitute the present study population.

Results— Genotype distributions were 64.9% (GG), 31.8% (GA), and 3.3% (AA). In a logistic regression model with age, sex, hypertension, diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia, myocardial infarction, arrhythmia, atrial fibrillation, peripheral arterial disease, and smoking as possible confounders, there was a significant association between A+ genotype and 3 lacunar infarcts (odds ratio [OR], 2.57; 95% CI, 1.23 to 5.36; P=0.01). Hypertensive patients carrying the A allele had increased risk (OR, 4.24; 95% CI, 1.29 to 13.99; P=0.02) for 3 lacunar infarcts. A similar increase in risk was observed among smokers with the A+ genotype (OR, 2.67; 95% CI, 0.92 to 7.77; P=0.07).

Conclusions— Stroke patients carrying the A allele of the Bß-fibrinogen -455G/A polymorphism frequently presented with multiple lacunar infarcts. This association was stronger among hypertensives and smokers. These associations suggest that the A allele may predispose to atherothrombotic events in cerebrovascular circulation.

Key Words: fibrinogen • genetics • infarcts • lacunar infarction • stroke

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