Genetic aspects of ischemic stroke: coagulation, homocysteine, and lipoprotein metabolism as potential risk factors.

Stroke is one of the most common causes of death and long term disability throughout the world. It may be the outcome of a number of monogenic disorders or, more commonly, a polygenic multifactorial disease. Numerous studies have investigated the role of genetics in the pathogenesis of ischemic stroke, with varied and often contradictory results. The candidate 'stroke risk' genes affecting haemostasis (F5, F2, FGA/FGB, F7, F13A1, vWF, F12, SERPINE1, ITGB3/ITGA2B, ITGA2, GP1BA, TPA, TAFI, THBD, PZ, ANX5), homocysteine metabolism (MTHFR, CBS, MTR), and lipid metabolism (apo E, LPL, CETP, ABCA1, apo AI, apo CIII, apo AIV, apo AV, apo B, apo H, apo(a), PON1/2/3, LDLR/LOX-1) are evaluated in this review. By examining meta-analyses and case-control studies, we made a classification of gene/gene polymorphisms according to the degree of association with ischemic stroke risk. The data assembled could be very useful for further meta-analysis and for future clinical applications.