Rastenyte D, Tuomilehto J, Sarti C
Department of Epidemiology and Health Promotion, National Public Health Institute, Helsinki, Finland.
J Neurol Sci. 1998 Jan 8;153(2):132-45. doi: 10.1016/s0022-510x(97)00286-4.
Evidence from twin and family shows that genetic factors contribute to the risk of stroke and that their role may be at least as important in stroke as in coronary heart disease. Additional support for the significance of genetic factors comes from other findings such as epidemiological data showing phenotypic heterogeneity of stroke, genetic influence on many of the risk factors for stroke, and racial and geographic differences in morbidity and mortality in stroke victims. Yet, apart from the reported associations of a small number of cases with Mendelian cerebrovascular diseases, only a few studies have directly investigated gene markers or molecular genetics of stroke. This review presents the existing evidence on the genetic background of stroke and discusses results from the genetic studies of stroke published to date.
