Factor VII polymorphisms and stroke

Kim, Ji Myoung; Yang, Hae Kyoung; Kim, Jong Sung; Park, Chan Jeoung; Chi, Hyun Sook

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Factor VII:C (FVII:C) has been shown to be a risk factor of ischemic heart disease (IHD) and plasma levels are reported to be associated with polymorphisms of the FVII gene. Cerebrovascular disease (CVD) shares many of the risk factors associated with IHD but few studies about the relationship between FVII and CVD have been investigated. In this study, we sought to determine the relationship between FVII gene polymorphisms and cerebral infarct in the population below 50 years old.
METHODS
The subjects were 78 patients with cerebral infarct who had been admitted between March and December 1999 and 70 controls, matched with age and sex. FVII R353Q and hypervariable region 4 (HVR4) polymorphisms were analyzed with allele specific PCR and restriction enzyme treatment. FVII:C assay was performed on the STAGO Compact analyzer. Total cholesterol and triglycerides were also measured.
RESULTS
There was no significant difference in FVII:C, total cholesterol and triglycerides between patients and controls. The distribution of the FVII R353Q genotype and the HVR4 genotype also showed no differences in patients, compared to controls. But both polymorphisms were significantly associated with FVII:C levels in the patients and controls.
CONCLUSIONS
The level of FVII:C was related to FVII gene polymorphisms but there is no significant difference of FVII gene polymorphisms in the cerebral infarct population, compared to controls. Our study supports that neither FVII:C levels nor FVII genotypes are independently involved in the pathogenesis of cerebral infarct. In conclusion, the FVII genotype is a major predictor of plasma FVII:C levels but may not play an important role in the development of cerebral infarct.