Factor XIII-A subunit Val34Leu polymorphism in fatal hemorrhagic stroke.

Blood coagulation factor XIII (FXIII) plays a key role in the protection of fibrin clot against fibrinolysis, in the cross-linking of fibrin and its mechanical strength. The role of the FXIII-A subunit Val34Leu polymorphism with fatal primary intracerebral hemorrhages (PICH) has not been studied. We evaluated retrospectively the prevalence of this polymorphism in stroke patients with fatal PICH and population control matched for age and gender. The prevalence of this polymorphism was determined for patients with fatal PICH (n = 98, female/male: 41/57) and controls. DNA was obtained from peripheral white blood cells in case of controls and from paraffin-embedded tissue sections in case of fatal PICH. The odds for increasing the risk of PICH against the control group were 5.429, 3.286, and 7.661 for total, female, and male patients, respectively. The Leu34Leu homozygous variant of the FXIII Val34Leu polymorphism significantly increased the risk of fatal PICH stroke in men.