Abstract
Inherited gene defects related to the coagulation system have been reported as risk factors for ischemic stroke. These gene defects include a G-A transition at nucleotide 1691 in exon 10 of the Factor V gene causing activated protein C resistance; a G-A transition in the 3' untranslated region of the prothrombin gene at nucleotide position 20210 (G-A), which is associated with increased levels of prothrombin activity; and a C-T polymorphism at nucleotide 677 in the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene responsible for an alanine to valine substitution, resulting in the synthesis of a thermolabile form of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase that causes increased levels of homocysteine. The case-control study included 28 patients with cerebral infarction; all were 18 years of age or younger (range, 10 months to 18 years). Seven (25%) of the 28 patients were heterozygous for the FV1691 mutation. Five (17.8%) of the patients carried the PT 20210A mutation. Two (7.1%) of the patients carried both mutations. When compared to controls, the difference was significant for both mutations (P = .007; .04). The frequency of allele T of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase 677 was 0.3214, which was not significant when compared to controls (0.231; P = .3). A total of 12 (42.8%) patients carried one or both of the mutations FV1691 G-A and PT20210 G-A. From our data, it appears that FV1691 G-A and PT20210 G-A are associated with cerebral infarct risk independently. Risk assessment of double prothrombotic gene alterations did not reveal synergy between these mutations. In conclusion, the presence of FV1691 A and PT20210 A mutations but not the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase 677 TT mutation correlate with the occurrence of cerebral infarction in children. (J Child Neurol 1999;14:749-751).
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