Genetic Imbalance Is Associated With Functional Outcome After Ischemic Stroke.

Background and Purpose- We sought to explore the effect of genetic imbalance on functional outcome after ischemic stroke (IS). Methods- Copy number variation was identified in high-density single-nucleotide polymorphism microarray data of IS patients from the CADISP (Cervical Artery Dissection and Ischemic Stroke Patients) and SiGN (Stroke Genetics Network)/GISCOME (Genetics of Ischaemic Stroke Functional Outcome) networks. Genetic imbalance, defined as total number of protein-coding genes affected by copy number variations in an individual, was compared between patients with favorable (modified Rankin Scale score of 0-2) and unfavorable (modified Rankin Scale score of ≥3) outcome after 3 months.

Genetic Imbalance in Patients with Cervical Artery Dissection.

Background: Genetic and environmental risk factors are assumed to contribute to the susceptibility to cervical artery dissection (CeAD). To explore the role of genetic imbalance in the etiology of CeAD, copy number variants (CNVs) were identified in high-density microarrays samples from the multicenter CADISP (Cervical Artery Dissection and Ischemic Stroke Patients) study and from control subjects from the CADISP study and the German PopGen biobank. Microarray data from 833 CeAD patients and 2040 control subjects (565 subjects with ischemic stroke due to causes different from CeAD and 1475 disease-free individuals) were analyzed.

Common variation in PHACTR1 is associated with susceptibility to cervical artery dissection.

Cervical artery dissection (CeAD), a mural hematoma in a carotid or vertebral artery, is a major cause of ischemic stroke in young adults although relatively uncommon in the general population (incidence of 2.6/100,000 per year). Minor cervical traumas, infection, migraine and hypertension are putative risk factors, and inverse associations with obesity and hypercholesterolemia are described.

Characteristics and outcomes of patients with multiple cervical artery dissection.

Background And Purpose: Little is known about factors contributing to multiple rather than single cervical artery dissections (CeAD) and their associated prognosis.

Methods: We compared the baseline characteristics and short-term outcome of patients with multiple to single CeAD included in the multicenter Cervical Artery Dissection and Ischemic Stroke Patients (CADISP) study.

Results: Among the 983 patients with CeAD, 149 (15.

Predictors of delayed stroke in patients with cervical artery dissection.

Background: Stroke in patients with acute cervical artery dissection may be anticipated by initial transient ischemic or nonischemic symptoms.

Aim: Identifying risk factors for delayed stroke upon cervical artery dissection.

Methods: Cervical artery dissection patients from the multicenter Cervical Artery Dissection and Ischemic Stroke Patients study were classified as patients without stroke (n = 339), with stroke preceded by nonstroke symptoms (delayed stroke, n = 244), and with stroke at onset (n = 382).

Genetic risk factors for ischaemic stroke and its subtypes (the METASTROKE collaboration): a meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies.

Background: Various genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have been done in ischaemic stroke, identifying a few loci associated with the disease, but sample sizes have been 3500 cases or less. We established the METASTROKE collaboration with the aim of validating associations from previous GWAS and identifying novel genetic associations through meta-analysis of GWAS datasets for ischaemic stroke and its subtypes.

Methods: We meta-analysed data from 15 ischaemic stroke cohorts with a total of 12 389 individuals with ischaemic stroke and 62 004 controls, all of European ancestry.

Towards understanding seasonal variability in cervical artery dissection (CeAD).

Cervical artery dissection (CeAD) occurs more often in autumn or winter than in spring or summer. We searched for clinical variables associated with this seasonality by comparing CeAD patients with onset of symptoms in autumn–winter (September 22–March 21) versus those with first CeAD symptom in spring–summer (March 22–September 21). We performed a cross-sectional study using data from the multicenter CADISP (Cervical Artery Dissection and Ischemic Stroke Patients) registry.

Association of vascular risk factors with cervical artery dissection and ischemic stroke in young adults.

Background: Little is known about the risk factors for cervical artery dissection (CEAD), a major cause of ischemic stroke (IS) in young adults. Hypertension, diabetes mellitus, smoking, hypercholesterolemia, and obesity are important risk factors for IS. However, their specific role in CEAD is poorly investigated.

Variant on 9p21 strongly associates with coronary heart disease, but lacks association with common stroke.

Recently, genome-wide analyses revealed that variants on chromosome 9p21 are associated with myocardial infarction. We investigated whether this association was also present in a Belgian population of coronary artery disease (CAD) patients. As CAD and ischemic cerebrovascular disease (CVD) are thought to share some pathogenic pathways, we further examined the association of 9p21 with this disease.

Associations of apolipoprotein E gene with ischemic stroke and intracranial atherosclerosis.

The apolipoprotein E (APOE) epsilon4 allele is associated with elevated cholesterol and risk of atherosclerosis. However, its role in ischemic stroke (IS) remains controversial. We investigated a possible link between IS or the severity of intracranial atherosclerosis and the APOE promoter polymorphisms -219G/T and +113G/C, involved in regulating APOE transcription.

Antiplatelets versus anticoagulation in cervical artery dissection.

Background And Purpose: The widespread preference of anticoagulants over antiplatelets in patients with cervical artery dissection (CAD) is empirical rather than evidence-based. Summary of Review- This article summarizes pathophysiological considerations, clinical experiences, and the findings of a systematic metaanalysis about antithrombotic agents in CAD patients. As a result, there are several putative arguments in favor as well as against immediate anticoagulation in CAD patients.