APOE gene epsilon polymorphism does not determine predisposition to ischemic stroke in children.

Ischemic stroke in children is relatively rare, but it remains an important medical problem. Previous studies on Polish children have implicated dyslipidemias as significant risk factors in stroke. To search for genetic factors associated with the disease, the possible association between apolipoprotein E gene epsilon polymorphism and childhood stroke was evaluated. The study population consisted of 243 individuals: 72 children with ischemic stroke and 100 of their biological parents and 71 children without any symptoms of stroke. The apolipoprotein E gene epsilon polymorphism was genotyped using restriction fragment length polymorphism methodology. To analyze the possible association between this polymorphism and stroke, the transmission disequilibrium test and the case-control model were used. No preferential distribution of any allele from parents to the affected children was observed. There were also no significant differences in genotype and allele distribution between patients and control subjects. Study findings did not confirm that epsilon polymorphism of the apolipoprotein E gene is a risk factor of ischemic stroke in children.