Angiotensinogen gene polymorphism and ischemic stroke in East Asians: A meta-analysis☆

OBJECTIVE To investigate the association between angiotensinogen gene M235T polymorphism and ischemic stroke in East Asians. DATA RETRIEVAL A computer-based online search was conducted in PubMed, Google scholar, China National Knowledge lnfrastructure database between January 1990 and April 2012 for relevant studies. The key words were angiotensinogen or AGT, polymorphism or genetic and ischemic stroke or cerebral infarction. SELECTION CRITERIA Case-controlled studies addressing the correlation between angiotensinogen gene M235T polymorphism and ischemic stroke in East Asians were included. The distribution of genotypes in the included studies was tested for Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. Quality evaluation of the included studies was conducted by two physicians. Statistical analyses were carried out using Stata 12.0 software for meta-analysis. Heterogeneity tests, sensitivity analysis and publication bias were also conducted. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The association between angiotensinogen gene M235T polymorphism and ischemic stroke risk in East Asians was assessed. RESULTS Six relevant studies involving 891 patients with ischemic stroke and 727 controls were included in this meta-analysis. Results showed that there was a significant association between angiotensinogen gene M235T polymorphism and the risk of ischemic stroke in East Asians (T vs. M: odds ratio (OR) = 1.54, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.10-2.16; TT vs. MM: OR = 2.24, 95%CI = 1.37-3.66; TT vs. MT: OR = 1.76, 95%CI = 1.41-2.20; MM + MT vs. TT: OR = 0.57, 95%CI = 0.46-0.70). Sensitivity analysis confirmed that the study results were stable and reliable, with no publication bias. CONCLUSION The angiotensinogen gene M235T polymorphism is associated with ischemic stroke in East Asians, and the TT genotype and T allele are risk factors for ischemic stroke.