Our results and the pooled analyses from all the studies indicate a strong association between PDE4D and ischaemic stroke. This strengthens the evidence that PDE4D plays a key part in the pathogenesis of ischaemic stroke. Heterogeneity among the studies in the direction of association between individual SNPs and stroke suggests that the SNPs tested are in linkage disequilibrium with the causal allele(s).

Background and Purpose-We aimed to determine whether A-13G or G79A polymorphisms of the protein Z gene that have been reported to be an important determinant of blood concentrations of protein Z are associated with risk of ischemic stroke in a broad range of stroke patients and controls. Methods-We conducted a case control study of 151 hospital cases of first-ever ischemic stroke and 164 randomly selected community controls. Protein Z genotype was determined for the A-13G promoter polymorphism and the G79A intron F polymorphism, and plasma protein Z concentrations were measured during the first 7 days and at 3 to 6 months after the acute stroke event. Results-Geometric mean concentrations of protein Z measured within 7 days of acute stroke were significantly higher in cases compared with controls (1.51 g/mL versus 1.13 g/mL; PϽ0⅐0001). Protein Z concentrations were highest among subjects with the A-13G AA genotype, intermediate among those with the AG genotype, and lowest among those with the GG genotype (1.39 g/mL versus 1.05 g/mL versus 0.76 g/mL; PϽ0.0001); and highest among those with the G79A GG genotype, intermediate among those with the GA genotype, and lowest among those with the AA genotype (1.47 g/mL versus 1.13 g/mL versus 0.66 g/mL; PϽ0.0001). The prevalence of A-13G and G79A genotypes was not significantly different between cases of ischemic stroke and controls. However, compared with the G79A GG genotype (reference), the odds of ischemic stroke was progressively lower for the heterozygote GA (odds ratio [OR], 0.83; 95% CI, 0.52 to 1.33) and the homozygote AA genotype (OR, 0.63; 95% CI, 0.20 to 1.98). A pooled analysis showed that compared with the G79A GG genotype (reference), the odds of ischemic stroke was progressively lower for the heterozygote GA (OR, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.57 to 1.07) and the homozygote AA genotype (OR, 0.31; 95% CI, 0.14 to 0.69). Conclusion-The consistency of the association between protein Z genotypes, blood concentrations of protein Z, and ischemic stroke, determined using 2 different methods that have different sources of bias strengthens the evidence that increased blood concentrations of protein Z concentrations are associated causally with an increased risk of ischemic stroke.

The present study aimed to determine whether four previously described polymorphisms found within the tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI) gene are associated with free plasma TFPI levels or with TFPI activity as well as the risk of ischaemic stroke in stroke patients and control individuals. We conducted a case-control study of 162 first-ever ischaemic stroke cases and 170 randomly selected community control individuals. The TFPI genotype was determined for the T-287C, C-399T, Intron 7 C-33T, and Val264Met (G874A) polymorphisms. Free plasma TFPI and TFPI activity were measured during the first 7 days and 3-6 months after the acute stroke event. Free plasma TFPI levels were significantly lowered 3-6 months after stroke compared with levels observed in the patient group during the acute phase of the stroke (mean, 16.3 versus 22.46 ng/ml; P = 0.046) and among the control group (mean, 16.3 versus 22.79 ng/ml; P< 0.0001). Conversely, TFPI activity was significantly up-regulated during the acute phase (mean, 1.30 versus 1.11 U/ml; P = 0.0051) and remained elevated 3-6 months later (mean, 1.28 versus 1.11 U/ml; P = 0.03). The TFPI gene polymorphisms studied were not significantly associated with TFPI levels or activity, nor with the risk of ischaemic stroke. In conclusion, the TFPI activity and concentration in plasma varied significantly after an ischaemic stroke; however, these variations were not found to be due to the presence of any of the genetic mutations analysed in this study. Our results are consistent with the emerging model suggesting the lipoprotein-bound portion of TFPI has a significant influence on coagulation and diseases of haemostasis.