Common genetic coagulation variants are not associated with ischemic stroke in a case-control study.

OBJECTIVE Abnormalities in the coagulation pathway are often included in the diagnostic work-up of stroke patients, especially in young adults with cryptogenic stroke. METHODS Three common genetic variants within the coagulation cascade were investigated in 500 control subjects and in 167 patients with ischemic stroke defined by TOAST subclassification. Analysed variants were factor V Leiden, prothrombin 20210G-->A and factor XIII Val34Leu. RESULTS The factor V Leiden mutation was over-represented in patients with cardioembolic stroke for trend, whereas the prothrombin 20210G-->A variant and the factor XIII polymorphism Val34Leu were not associated with stroke of any subtype. The three polymorphisms showed no association with stroke in subgroups of patients defined by age (<40, 40-49, 50-59, > or =60 years). DISCUSSION This study suggests that the analysis of prothrombin 20210G-->A and factor XIII Val34Leu is not a useful diagnostic procedure in the work-up of ischemic stroke.