Coagulation factor VII activity, Arg/Gln353 polymorphism and features of insulin resistance in first-degree-relatives of South Asian patients with stroke.

The aim of the study was to determine associations of factor VII:C levels in 140 South Asian stroke subjects and 143 first-degree relatives versus age-sex matched 146 control subjects without a personal or a family history of stroke subjects living in UK. There were no significant differences in Factor VII:C levels or FVII Msp I gene polymorphism (Arg-Gln 353) R353Q genotype frequency between the groups. R353Q genotype determined Factor VII:C levels in all the three groups. Factor VII:C levels correlated with triglycerides (patients, r = 0.23; relatives r = 27; control subjects, r = 0.24) and plasminogen activator inhibitor activity (patients, r = 0.30; relatives r = 0.22; control subjects r = 0.20) in all the three groups, but with insulin only in patients (p = 0.19). Circulating levels of Factor VII:C are determined by R353Q genotype and cluster with other risk factors associated with insulin resistance in South Asian ischaemic stroke patients, first-degree relatives and control subjects but are not related to stroke or a family history of stroke.