The Ischemic Stroke Genetics Study (ISGS) Protocol

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: James F Meschia, Mayo Clinic; Thomas G Brott, Mayo Clinic; Robert D Brown, Jr, Mayo Clinic; Richard JP Crook, Mayo Clinic; Michael Frankel, Emory University; John Hardy, National Institute on Aging; Jose G Merino, University of Florida Shands Hospital; Stephen S Rich, Wake Forest University School of Medicine; Scott Silliman, University of Florida Shands Hospital; Bradford Burke Worrall, University of Virginia Health System
• Language: English
• Date: 2003
• Publisher: BioMed Central
• Publication Version: Final Published Version
• Copyright Statement: © 2003 Meschia et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. This is an Open Access article: verbatim copying and redistribution of this article are permitted in all media for any purpose, provided this notice is preserved along with the article's original URL.
• Final Published Version (URL): http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2377/3/4
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: BMC Neurology
• ISSN: 1471-2377
• Volume: 3
• Issue: 4
• Grant/Funding Information: This study is supported by NIH NINDS RO1 NS-42733 (J.F.M.)
• Research Categories: Health Sciences, General; Health Sciences, Rehabilitation and Therapy; Biology, Neuroscience

Abstract

Background The molecular basis for the genetic risk of ischemic stroke is likely to be multigenic and influenced by environmental factors. Several small case-control studies have suggested associations between ischemic stroke and polymorphisms of genes that code for coagulation cascade proteins and platelet receptors. Our aim is to investigate potential associations between hemostatic gene polymorphisms and ischemic stroke, with particular emphasis on detailed characterization of the phenotype. Methods/Design The Ischemic Stroke Genetic Study is a prospective, multicenter genetic association study in adults with recent first-ever ischemic stroke confirmed with computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging. Patients are evaluated at academic medical centers in the United States and compared with sex- and age-matched controls. Stroke subtypes are determined by central blinded adjudication using standardized, validated mechanistic and syndromic classification systems. The panel of genes to be tested for polymorphisms includes β-fibrinogen and platelet glycoprotein Ia, Iba, and IIb/IIIa. Immortalized cell lines are created to allow for time- and cost-efficient testing of additional candidate genes in the future. Discussion The study is designed to minimize survival bias and to allow for exploring associations between specific polymorphisms and individual subtypes of ischemic stroke. The data set will also permit the study of genetic determinants of stroke outcome. Having cell lines will permit testing of future candidate risk factor genes.